622.10 Communications in professional confidence — exceptions — required consent to release of medical records after commencement of legal action — application to court. 1. A practicing attorney, counselor, physician, surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, mental health professional, or the stenographer or confidentialclerk of any such person, who obtains information by reason of the person’s employment, ora member of the clergy shall not be allowed, in giving testimony, to disclose any confidentialcommunication properly entrusted to the person in the person’s professional capacity, andnecessary and proper to enable the person to discharge the functions of the person’s officeaccording to the usual course of practice or discipline. 2. The prohibition does not apply to cases where the person in whose favor the prohibition is made waives the rights conferred; nor does the prohibition apply to physicians or surgeons,physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, orto the stenographer or confidential clerk of any physicians or surgeons, physician assistants,advanced registered nurse practitioners, or mental ed nurse practitioners, mental health professionals, orto the stenographer or confidential clerk of any physicians or surgeons, physician assistants,advanced registered nurse practitioners, or mental health professionals, in a civil action inwhich the condition of the person in whose favor the prohibition is made is an element orfactor of the claim or defense of the person or of any party claiming through or under theperson. The evidence is admissible upon trial of the action only as it relates to the conditionalleged. 3. a. In a civil action in which the condition of the plaintiff in whose favor the prohibition is made is an element or factor of the claim or defense of the adverse party or of any partyclaiming through or under the adverse party, the adverse party shall make a written requestfor records relating to the condition alleged upon the plaintiff’s attorney for a legally sufficientpatient’s waiver under federal and state law. Upon receipt of a written request, the plaintiffshall execute a legally sufficient patient’s waiver and release it to the adverse party makingthe request within sixty days of receipt of the written request. ceipt of a written request, the plaintiffshall execute a legally sufficient patient’s waiver and release it to the adverse party makingthe request within sixty days of receipt of the written request. The patient’s waiver mayrequire a physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner,or mental health professional to do all of the following: (1) Provide a complete copy of the patient’s records including but not limited to any reports or diagnostic imaging relating to the condition alleged. (2) Consult with the attorney for the adverse party prior to providing testimony regarding the plaintiff’s medical history and the condition alleged and opinions regarding healthetiology and prognosis for the condition alleged subject to the limitations in paragraphs 'c'and 'e'. b. If a plaintiff fails to sign a waiver within the prescribed time period, the court may order disclosure or compliance. The failure of a party to comply with the court’s order maybe grounds for dismissal of the action or any other relief authorized under the rules of civilprocedure. c. Any physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or mental health or dismissal of the action or any other relief authorized under the rules of civilprocedure. c. Any physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or mental health professional who provides records, provides information duringconsultation, or otherwise responds in good faith to a request pursuant to paragraph 'a'shall be immune with respect to all civil or criminal penalties, claims, or actions of any kindwith respect to this section. d. Any physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or mental health professional who provides records or consults with the attorney for anyparty shall be entitled to charge a reasonable fee for production of the records, diagnosticimaging, and consultation. Any party seeking consultation shall be responsible for paymentof all charges. The fees for copies of any records shall be as specified in subsection 6. e. Defendant’s counsel shall provide a written notice to plaintiff’s attorney in a manner consistent with the Iowa rules of civil procedure providing for notice of deposition at least tendays prior to any meeting with plaintiff’s physician or surgeon, physician assistant, rney in a manner consistent with the Iowa rules of civil procedure providing for notice of deposition at least tendays prior to any meeting with plaintiff’s physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advancedregistered nurse practitioner, or mental health professional. Plaintiff’s attorney has theright to be present at all such meetings, or participate in telephonic communication with thephysician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or mentalhealth professional and the attorney for the defendant. Prior to scheduling any meeting orengaging in any communication with the physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced Sat Dec 23 11:19:27 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 622.10 (32, 2) §622.10, EVIDENCE 2 registered nurse practitioner, or mental health professional, the attorney for the defendantshall confer with plaintiff’s attorney to determine a mutually convenient date and time forsuch meeting or telephonic communication. Plaintiff’s attorney may seek a protective orderstructuring all communication by making application to the court at any time. f. convenient date and time forsuch meeting or telephonic communication. Plaintiff’s attorney may seek a protective orderstructuring all communication by making application to the court at any time. f. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to actions or claims brought pursuant to chapter 85, 85A, or 85B, or to court orders issued pursuant to section 633.552. 4. a. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the confidentiality privilege under this section shall be absolute with regard to a criminal action and this section shall not beconstrued to authorize or require the disclosure of any privileged records to a defendant in acriminal action unless either of the following occur: (1) The privilege holder voluntarily waives the confidentiality privilege.(2) (a) The defendant seeking access to privileged records under this section files a motion demonstrating in good faith a reasonable probability that the information sought islikely to contain exculpatory information that is not available from any other source and forwhich there is a compelling need for the defendant to present a defense in the case. information sought islikely to contain exculpatory information that is not available from any other source and forwhich there is a compelling need for the defendant to present a defense in the case. Sucha motion shall be filed not later than forty days after arraignment under seal of the court.Failure of the defendant to timely file such a motion constitutes a waiver of the right to seekaccess to privileged records under this section, but the court, for good cause shown, maygrant relief from such waiver. (b) Upon a showing of a reasonable probability that the privileged records sought may likely contain exculpatory information that is not available from any other source, thecourt shall conduct an in camera review of such records to determine whether exculpatoryinformation is contained in such records. (c) If exculpatory information is contained in such records, the court shall balance the need to disclose such information against the privacy interest of the privilege holder. (d) Upon the court’s determination, in writing, that the privileged information sought is exculpatory and that there is a compelling need for such information that outweighs theprivacy interests of the ) Upon the court’s determination, in writing, that the privileged information sought is exculpatory and that there is a compelling need for such information that outweighs theprivacy interests of the privilege holder, the court shall issue an order allowing the disclosureof only those portions of the records that contain the exculpatory information. The court’sorder shall also prohibit any further dissemination of the information to any person, otherthan the defendant, the defendant’s attorney, and the prosecutor, unless otherwise authorizedby the court. b. Privileged information obtained by any means other than as provided in paragraph 'a' shall not be admissible in any criminal action. 5. If an adverse party desires the oral deposition, either discovery or evidentiary, of a physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or mentalhealth professional to which the prohibition would otherwise apply or the stenographeror confidential clerk of a physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registerednurse practitioner, or mental health professional or desires to call a physician or surgeon,physician assistant, advanced registered nurse hysician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registerednurse practitioner, or mental health professional or desires to call a physician or surgeon,physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or mental health professional towhich the prohibition would otherwise apply or the stenographer or confidential clerk of aphysician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or mentalhealth professional as a witness at the trial of the action, the adverse party shall file anapplication with the court for permission to do so. The court upon hearing, which shall notbe ex parte, shall grant permission unless the court finds that the evidence sought does notrelate to the condition alleged. At the request of any party or at the request of the deponent,the court shall fix a reasonable fee to be paid to a physician or surgeon, physician assistant,advanced registered nurse practitioner, or mental health professional by the party takingthe deposition or calling the witness. 6. At any time, upon a written request from a patient, a patient’s legal representative or attorney, or an adverse party pursuant to subsection 3, any provider shall provide n or calling the witness. 6. At any time, upon a written request from a patient, a patient’s legal representative or attorney, or an adverse party pursuant to subsection 3, any provider shall provide copies ofthe requested records or images to the requester within thirty days of receipt of the writtenrequest. The written request shall be accompanied by a legally sufficient patient’s waiverunless the request is made by the patient or the patient’s legal representative or attorney. a. The fee charged for the cost of producing the requested records or images shall be based upon the actual cost of production. If the written request and accompanying patient’s Sat Dec 23 11:19:27 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 622.10 (32, 2) waiver, if required, authorizes the release of all of the patient’s records for the requestedtime period, including records relating to the patient’s mental health, substance use disorder,and acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related conditions, the amount charged shallnot exceed the rates established by the workers’ compensation commissioner for copies ofrecords in workers’ compensation cases. immune deficiency syndrome-related conditions, the amount charged shallnot exceed the rates established by the workers’ compensation commissioner for copies ofrecords in workers’ compensation cases. If requested, the provider shall include an affidavitcertifying that the records or images produced are true and accurate copies of the originalsfor an additional fee not to exceed ten dollars. b. A patient or a patient’s legal representative or a patient’s attorney is entitled to one copy free of charge of the patient’s complete billing statement, subject only to a chargefor the actual costs of postage or delivery charges incurred in providing the statement. Ifrequested, the provider or custodian of the record shall include an affidavit certifying thebilling statements produced to be true and accurate copies of the originals for an additionalfee not to exceed ten dollars. c. Fees charged pursuant to this subsection are exempt from the sales tax pursuant to section 423.3, subsection 96. A provider providing the records or images may requirepayment in advance if an itemized statement demanding such is provided to the requestingparty within fifteen days of the request. subsection 96. A provider providing the records or images may requirepayment in advance if an itemized statement demanding such is provided to the requestingparty within fifteen days of the request. Upon a timely request for payment in advance, thetime for providing the records or images shall be extended until the greater of thirty daysfrom the date of the original request or ten days from the receipt of payment. d. If a provider does not provide to the requester all records or images encompassed by the request or does not allow a patient access to all of the patient’s medical records encompassedby the patient’s request to examine the patient’s records, the provider shall give written noticeto the requester or the patient that providing the requested records or images would be aviolation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L.No. 104-191. e. As used in this subsection:(1) 'Records' and 'images' include electronic media and data containing a patient’s health or billing information and 'copies' includes patient records or images provided inelectronic form, regardless of the form of the originals. ude electronic media and data containing a patient’s health or billing information and 'copies' includes patient records or images provided inelectronic form, regardless of the form of the originals. If consented to by the requestingparty, records and images produced pursuant to this subsection may be produced onelectronic media. (2) 'Provider' means any physician or surgeon, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, mental health professional, hospital, nursing home, or other person, entity,facility, or organization that furnishes, bills, or is paid for health care in the normal course ofbusiness. 7. For the purposes of this section, 'mental health professional' means a psychologist licensed under chapter 154B, a registered nurse licensed under chapter 152, a social workerlicensed under chapter 154C, a marital and family therapist licensed under chapter 154D,a mental health counselor licensed under chapter 154D, or an individual holding at least amaster’s degree in a related field as deemed appropriate by the board of behavioral science. 8. A qualified school guidance counselor, who is licensed by the board of educational examiners under chapter 256, subchapter a related field as deemed appropriate by the board of behavioral science. 8. A qualified school guidance counselor, who is licensed by the board of educational examiners under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, and who obtains information by reasonof the counselor’s employment as a qualified school guidance counselor, shall not be allowed,in giving testimony, to disclose any confidential communications properly entrusted to thecounselor by a pupil or the pupil’s parent or guardian in the counselor’s capacity as a qualifiedschool guidance counselor and necessary and proper to enable the counselor to perform thecounselor’s duties as a qualified school guidance counselor. 9. a. A peer support group counselor or individual present for a group crisis intervention who obtains information from an officer or a civilian employee of a law enforcement agencyor fire department by reason of the counselor’s capacity as a peer support group counseloror an individual’s presence for a group crisis intervention shall not be allowed, in givingtestimony, to disclose any confidential communication properly entrusted to the counseloror individual present for a group crisis intervention by the officer tervention shall not be allowed, in givingtestimony, to disclose any confidential communication properly entrusted to the counseloror individual present for a group crisis intervention by the officer or civilian employee whilereceiving counseling or group crisis intervention. b. The prohibition in this subsection does not apply where the officer or civilian employee has consented to the disclosure of the information specified in paragraph 'a' or where the Sat Dec 23 11:19:27 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 622.10 (32, 2) §622.10, EVIDENCE 4 peer support group counselor or individual present for a group crisis intervention was aninitial responding officer, a witness, or a party to the incident which prompted the deliveryof peer support group counseling services or the group crisis intervention to the officer orcivilian employee. c. For purposes of this subsection:(1) 'Officer' means a certified law enforcement officer, fire fighter, emergency medical technician, paramedic, corrections officer, detention officer, jailer, probation or parole officer,communications officer, dispatcher, emergency management coordinator under chapter 29C,or any other law enforcement officer certified by fficer, detention officer, jailer, probation or parole officer,communications officer, dispatcher, emergency management coordinator under chapter 29C,or any other law enforcement officer certified by the Iowa law enforcement academy andemployed by a city, county, or state agency. (2) 'Peer support group counselor' means a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, civilian employee of a law enforcement agency or fire department, or a nonemployee counselor whohas been designated as a peer support group counselor by a sheriff, police chief, fire chief,or department head of a law enforcement agency, fire department, or emergency medicalservices agency and who has received training to provide emotional and moral support andcounseling to an officer who needs those services as a result of an incident in which the officerwas involved while acting in the officer’s official capacity. [C51, §2393, 2394; R60, §3985, 3986; C73, §3643; C97, §4608; S13, §4608; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §11263; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §622.10; 82 Acts, ch 1242, §1] 88 Acts, ch 1134, §107; 88 Acts, ch 1262, §10; 91 Acts, ch 229, §11; 97 Acts, ch 197, §8, 16; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §179; 2008 Acts, ch 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §622.10; 82 Acts, ch 1242, §1] 88 Acts, ch 1134, §107; 88 Acts, ch 1262, §10; 91 Acts, ch 229, §11; 97 Acts, ch 197, §8, 16; 2007 Acts, ch 10, §179; 2008 Acts, ch 1031, §67; 2008 Acts, ch 1191, §81 – 83; 2011 Acts, ch 8,§2, 3; 2012 Acts, ch 1110, §22; 2015 Acts, ch 32, §1; 2019 Acts, ch 57, §5, 43, 44; 2021 Acts, ch76, §144; 2021 Acts, ch 183, §8; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1270, 2600 Referred to in §2C.9, 228.6, 232.68, 232.74, 235A.15, 272C.6, 423.3, 514B.30Wounds and burn injuries connected to criminal offenses; §147.112 and 147.113ADisclosures of mental health and psychological information, see chapter 2282019 amendment to subsection 3, paragraph f, takes effect January 1, 2020, and applies to guardianships and guardianship proceedings for adults and conservatorships and conservatorship proceedings for adults and minors established or pending before, on, or after thatdate; 2019 Acts, ch 57, §43, 44 Subsection 6, paragraph a amendedSubsection 8 amended Sat Dec 23 11:19:27 2023 Iowa Code 2024, Section 622.10 (32, 2)
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