4Collection, use and disclosure of health information by human services agencies

4 Collection, use and disclosure of health information by human services agencies

4 Collection, use and disclosure of health information by human services agencies

(1) In this clause:

allied agency means an agency (other than a public sector agency) that is wholly or partly funded by a human services agency and that is approved in writing by the head of that human services agency as an allied agency for the purposes of this clause.

human services agency means a public sector agency that provides any one or more of the following types of services to the public:

(a) welfare services,

(b) health services,

(c) mental health services,

(d) disability services,

(e) drug and alcohol treatment services,

(f) housing and support services,

(g) education services.

senior officer means a senior member of staff of a human services agency who has been nominated in writing for the purposes of this clause by the head of that agency.

substantial adverse impact includes, but is not limited to, serious physical or mental harm, significant loss of benefits or other income, imprisonment, loss of housing or the loss of a carer.

(2) Despite the Health Privacy Principles, a human services agency (the authorised agency) may collect and use health information about an individual, and may disclose health information about the individual to another human services agency or an allied agency, if the collection, use or disclosure is in accordance with a written authorisation given by a senior officer of the authorised agency.

(3) An authorisation under subclause (2) must specify:

(a) the period (maximum 12 months) for which the authorisation has effect, and

(b) the classes of health information to which the authorisation is to apply (the specified information), and

(c) the human services agencies or allied agencies (if any) to whom the specified information may be disclosed (the specified agencies).

(4) A senior officer may give an authorisation under subclause (2) only if the officer is satisfied that: