Montana Code Annotated 2017

TITLE 37. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS

CHAPTER 38. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS

Part 1. General Provisions

Privileged Communications -- Exceptions

37-38-106. Privileged communications -- exceptions. (1) Certified behavioral health peer support specialists work in health care teams. Communication among team members that is essential for the supported individual's recovery must be defined and established by board rule.

(2) A certified behavioral health peer support specialist may not disclose any information the peer support specialist acquires from an individual to whom the peer support specialist provides behavioral health peer support except:

(a) with the written consent of the individual or, in the case of the individual's death or mental incapacity, with the written consent of the individual's personal representative or guardian;

(b) when a communication that otherwise would be confidential reveals that the individual or another person is contemplating the commission of a crime or in the behavioral health peer support specialist's professional opinion reveals a threat of imminent harm to the individual or others;

(c) that if the individual is a minor and information acquired by the certified behavioral health peer support specialist indicates that the minor was the victim of a crime, the peer support specialist may be required to testify fully in relation to the information in any investigation, trial, or other legal proceeding in which the commission of that crime is the subject of inquiry;

(d) that if the individual or the individual's personal representative or guardian brings an action against a certified behavioral health peer support specialist for a claim arising out of the peer support specialist's professional relationship with the individual, the individual is considered to have waived any privilege;

(e) to the extent that the privilege is otherwise waived by the individual; and

(f) as may otherwise be required by law.

History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 127, L. 2017.