L. Hospital reports.

Confidentiality of licensing and administrative proceedings by the Department of Health and Social Services in connection with hospitals and other health care facilities is governed generally by AS 47.32.180. Also, state law establishes certain health care "review organizations," including the State Medical Board, hospital governing bodies and others, that are to gather and review information relating to the care and treatment of patients. The purposes for doing this include, among others, evaluating and improving health care, reducing morbidity or mortality, work or cost controls, developing professional standards and norms of care, and ruling on controversies and disputes involving insurance carriers, licensing boards and others. All data and information acquired by a review organization must be held by it in confidence. However, information, documents or records otherwise available from original sources are not immune because they were presented during proceedings of a review organization. AS 18.23.030. Information and records obtained in the course of a screening investigation, evaluation, examination or treatment of patients under the state civil commitment statute are confidential. The patient or an individual to whom the patient has given written consent can obtain these records. AS 47.30.845. A statute enacted in 1990 governs "health maintenance organizations" that undertake to provide or arrange for basic health care services to enrollees on a prepaid basis. Records concerning these HMOs are public except for trade secrets, privileged, confidential commercial, or financial information as determined by the director, and information required on annual reports showing the number, amount and disposition of malpractice claims settled during the year by the HMO, AS 21.86.270, and information concerning malpractice claims settled. AS 21.86.100(b). Also, data or information provided to an HMO pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment or health of an enrollee or applicant is generally confidential. AS 21.86.280. Examination reports for HMOs are to be handled like others under this chapter.