Welf. & Inst. Code 14100.2(b) (1980; amended by AB 2300, 2008)

All information about applicants and recipients for social services as listed in Welfare and Institutions Code 14100.2(a) is to be protected including but is not limited to names and addresses, medical services provided, social and economic conditions or circumstances, personal information, and medical data. Exceptions as provided in this section and by federal law.

Welf. & Inst. Code 14100.2(d) (1980; amended by AB 2300, 2008)

Confidential information as listed under Welfare and Institutions Code 14100.2(b) must be disclosed to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee and the State Auditor. The LAC and the State Auditor may use the information for the purposes of auditing or investigating the Medi-Cal program, Chapter 8, or 8.7. In the event of such authorized disclosures the information shall not be used for commercial or political purposes and the identity of applicants and recipients shall not be disclosed, except in criminal or civil proceeding connected with the administration of the Medi-Cal program.

Welf. & Inst. Code 14100.2(e) (1980; amended by AB 2300, 2008)

Access to information under Welfare and Institutions Code 14100.2(d) shall be permitted only to the extent and under the conditions provided by federal law and regulations governing the release of such information.

Welf. & Inst. Code 14455

Prepaid health plan shall maintain a complete unit medical record for each enrollee. Records of treatments received from subcontractors should be included in such medical records. Medical records should be maintained and kept in a manner stated by the director and shall be available for review by the department and the US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Welf. & Inst. Code 5328 (2005)

All information and records obtained in the course of providing mental health services, developmental services, services for the developmentally disabled, community mental health services, and services in state, federal, and county mental hospitals and institutions and psychiatric hospitals, to either voluntary or involuntary recipients of services shall be confidential.

Welf. & Inst. Code 5328.04(a) and (b) (added by AB 2352, 2008)

Information and records made confidential in the provision of mental health and developmental services, services for the developmentally disabled, services to those admitted and judicially committed to mental hospitals and institutions, etc., may be disclosed to a county social worker, a probation officer, or any other person legally authorized to have custody/care of a minor, for the purpose of coordinating health care services and medical treatment, mental health services, or services for developmental disabilities, for the minor. Information disclosed shall not be further disclosed by the recipient unless it is for the purpose of coordinating health care services and medical treatment, or mental health or developmental disability services, for the minor and only to a person who would otherwise be able to obtain the information.

Welf. & Inst. 366.24(d) (2009; amended by AB 1712, 2012)

(d) In the case of tribal customary adoptions, the department and any licensed adoption agency can disclose: any identifying information requested by the State Department of Social Services for the purpose of record-keeping and evaluating tribal customary adoption services; information about a prospective tribal customary adoptive parent or birth parent (with the subject’s written authorization) to other social service agencies; information relating to a tribal customary adoption petition or the child in custody, to the juvenile court, welfare agency, foster care services, potential adoptive parents, or health care provider, to promote the child's welfare; and tribal customary adoption case records to researchers so long as the research will not disclose their identities to anyone else.

Welf. & Inst. Code 11320.3 (1995; amended by SB 252, 2013)

Every individual, as a condition to receive aid through welfare-to-work, shall participate in welfare-to-work activities. However, participants are exempted for so long as they meet certain conditions, including: a doctor-verified disability that is expected to last at least 30 days and which significantly impairs the recipient's ability to participate in welfare-to-work or to be regularly employed; or a woman who is pregnant and for whom it has been medically verified that the pregnancy impairs her ability to be regularly employed or participate in welfare-to-work activities. However, if a pregnant woman is unable to secure this medical verification, but is otherwise eligible for an exemption from welfare-to-work requirements under this section, including good cause for temporary illness related to the pregnancy, she shall be exempt from participating in welfare-to-work activities.

Welf. & Inst. Code 11450(f) (1972; amended by AB 74, 2013)

(f)(2)(E) A family is eligible for temporary and permanent homeless assistance when homelessness is a direct result of domestic abuse or a medically verified physical or mental illness that is not the result of alcohol or drug addiction or psychological stress. These circumstances shall be verified by a third-party governmental or private health and human services agency; domestic violence may also be verified by the victim's sworn statement. The county welfare department shall report necessary data regarding all aid recipients to the State Department of Social Services, as requested.

Welf. & Inst. Code 324.5

When authorities are alerted of allegations of child abuse, they may have the child undergo a physical examination. The department shall provide the results of the examination to the court and the counsel of the child and parent. The local welfare agency must request additional examinations of the child to determine abuse/neglect by the same examiner if possible. If not, the agency must ensure that the child's future medical practitioner has specialized abuse detection training and that the practitioner have access to the child's medical records that include incidents of abuse.