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BAM 310 21 of 29 CONFIDENTIALITY AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO CASE RECORDS BPB 2022-015 7-1-2022

BRIDGES ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

(2) Records relating to persons applying for, receiving or formerly receiving medical services under the categorical assistance programs of this act are confidential and shall be used only for purposes directly and specifically related to the administration of the medical program. (3) In each county, the department shall maintain an alphabetical index file in its office of cases receiving assistance through the department. When a citizen makes a personal visit to an office during regular office hours and makes inquiry as to the name or amount of assistance being received by a person, the requester shall be given the information requested in the manner prescribed by the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246. (4) Subject to restrictions prescribed by federal regulations governing temporary assistance for needy families or other federal programs, rules of the state department, or otherwise, for preventing the disclosure of confidential information to any person not authorized by law to receive the confidential information, the state department shall make available to a public utility regulated by the Michigan public service commission or a municipality information concerning applicants for, and recipients of, public assistance, the disclosure of which is necessary and the use of which is strictly limited to the purpose of a public utility's administering a program created by statute or by order of the Michigan public service commission and intended to assist applicants for, or recipients of, public assistance in defraying their energy costs. (5) The state department may disclose information regarding applicants for, and recipients of, assistance under this act in connection with the administration of assistance under this act, including the implementation and administration of section 60a, to the extent that the disclosure in regard to applicants for and recipients of federally funded assistance is in accordance with applicable federal law and regulations regarding disclosure of confidential information concerning applicants for or recipients of federally funded assistance. (6) Except as prescribed in section 61(2) and 61(3), a person who violates this section is, upon conviction, guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or by a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both. If an employee of the state violates this section, the employee is also subject to dismissal from