Recipient rights advisors; consultants and coordinators are not constrained by federal confidentiality regulations when reviewing records during an investigation.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (B)

Confidentiality rules apply to anyone handling recipient records, even during an investigation. Recipient rights advisors, consultants, and coordinators may review records, but their access is not free or unlimited. They must have a legitimate need to know, access only the minimum amount of information necessary, and ensure any sharing complies with federal confidentiality regulations (such as Part 2 and HIPAA) and relevant state laws. Disclosures must be authorized or fall under permissible exceptions, and they must be documented and restricted to those directly involved in the investigation. Because of these safeguards, the idea that they are not constrained by federal confidentiality regulations is false.