1. A clinical record for each consumer must be diligently maintained by any division facility, private institution, facility offering mental health services or program of community-based or outpatient services. The record must include information pertaining to the consumer’s admission, legal status, treatment and individualized plan for habilitation. The clinical record is not a public record and no part of it may be released, except as otherwise provided in subsection 2 or except:

(a) If the release is authorized or required pursuant to NRS 439.538.

(b) The record must be released to physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, attorneys and social agencies as specifically authorized in writing by the consumer, the consumer’s parent, guardian or attorney.

(c) The record must be released to persons authorized by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(d) The record or any part thereof may be disclosed to a qualified member of the staff of a division facility, an employee of the Division or a member of the staff of an agency in Nevada which has been established pursuant to the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, 42 U.S.C. §§ 15001 et seq., or the Protection and Advocacy for Mentally Ill Individuals Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 10801 et seq., when the Administrator deems it necessary for the proper care of the consumer.

(e) Information from the clinical records may be used for statistical and evaluative purposes if the information is abstracted in such a way as to protect the identity of individual consumers.

(f) To the extent necessary for a consumer to make a claim, or for a claim to be made on behalf of a consumer for aid, insurance or medical assistance to which the consumer may be entitled, information from the records may be released with the written authorization of the consumer or the consumer’s guardian.

(g) The record must be released without charge to any member of the staff of an agency in Nevada which has been established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 15001 et seq. or 42 U.S.C. §§ 10801 et seq. if:

(1) The consumer is a consumer of that office and the consumer or the consumer’s legal representative or guardian authorizes the release of the record; or

(2) A complaint regarding a consumer was received by the office or there is probable cause to believe that the consumer has been abused or neglected and the consumer:

(I) Is unable to authorize the release of the record because of the consumer’s mental or physical condition; and

(II) Does not have a guardian or other legal representative or is a ward of the State.

(h) The record must be released as provided in NRS 433.332 or 433B.200 and in chapter 629 of NRS.

2. A division facility, private institution, facility offering mental health services or program of community-based or outpatient services and any other person or entity having information concerning a consumer, including, without limitation, a clinical record, any part thereof or any information contained therein, may disclose such information to a provider of health care to assist with treatment provided to the consumer.

3. As used in this section:

(a) “Consumer” includes any person who seeks, on the person’s own or others’ initiative, and can benefit from, care, treatment and training in a private institution or facility offering mental health services, from treatment to competency in a private institution or facility offering mental health services, or from a program of community-based or outpatient services.

(b) “Provider of health care” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 629.031.

(Added to NRS by 1975, 1611; A 1987, 746, 1197; 1989, 2056; 1991, 2351; 1993, 2722; 2003, 1945; 2007, 1981; 2011, 428; 2013, 3494; 2017, 1752; 2019, 362)