CONFIDENTIALITY

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, all proceedings and records of a pharmacy peer review committee are confidential and all communications made to a pharmacy peer review committee are privileged. (b) If a court makes a preliminary finding that a proceeding, record, or communication described by Subsection (a) is relevant to an anticompetitive action or an action brought under federal civil rights provisions under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983, then the proceeding, record, or communication is not confidential to the extent it is considered to be relevant. (c) The final report of, and any written or oral communication made to, a pharmacy peer review committee and the records and proceedings of the committee may be disclosed to another pharmacy peer review committee, appropriate state or federal agencies, national accreditation bodies, or the state board of registration or licensure of this or any other state. (d) Disclosure to the affected pharmacist of confidential pharmacy peer review committee information pertinent to the matter under review does not constitute waiver of the confidentiality provisions provided by this section. (e) If a pharmacy peer review committee takes action that could result in censure, license suspension, restriction, limitation, or revocation by the board or denial of membership or privileges in a health care entity, the affected pharmacist must be provided a written copy of the recommendation of the pharmacy peer review committee and a copy of the pharmacy peer review committee's final decision, including a statement of the basis for the decision. (f) Unless disclosure is required or authorized by law, records or determinations of, or communications to, a pharmacy peer review committee are not subject to subpoena or discovery and are not admissible as evidence in any civil, judicial, or administrative proceeding without waiver of the privilege of confidentiality executed in writing by the committee. The evidentiary privilege created by this section may be invoked by any person or organization in any civil, judicial, or administrative proceeding unless the person or organization has secured a waiver of the privilege executed in writing by the presiding officer, assistant presiding officer, or secretary of the affected pharmacy peer review committee. (g) Reports, information, or records received and maintained by the board under this subchapter are considered investigative files and are confidential and may only be released as specified in Section 565.055.