Section 240.340  Confidentiality/Safeguarding of Case Information

a)         For the protection of applicants/clients, any information about an applicant's/client's case is confidential and may be used only for purposes directly related to the administration of the Community Care Program.  Information which is considered to be included in the administration of the program is as follows:

1)         Establishing an applicant's/client's initial/ continuing eligibility;

2)         Establishing the extent of an applicant's/client's assets, income, determination of the expense to be incurred by the client for care, and determination of need under the CCP;

3)         Finding and linking needed services and resources available to an eligible client;

4)         Assuring the health and safety of the client.

5)         Collecting data for the Department's demonstration/research projects.

b)         Use of information for commercial, personal political or other purposes not specified in this Section is specifically prohibited.

c)         The Department, Case Coordination Units (CCUs) and vendors shall inform all agencies and governmental departments to whom information is furnished that this material is confidential and must be so considered by the agency or governmental department.

d)         Any information received from other agencies or persons, which includes the express statement that the information is not to be released to the client or to any other person or agency under any circumstances, is prohibited from release as case information.  Requests for such information shall be referred to the originator of the restricted information.

e)         If any information about a client or document contained in the applicant's/client's case file is to be used for any purpose other than the administration of the Community Care Program, the Case Coordination Unit or the vendor shall obtain a Release Information form signed by the applicant/client/authorized representative. The Release Information form shall be placed in the applicant's/client's file.

(Source:  Amended at 13 Ill. Reg. 11193, effective July 1, 1989)