Many of the records of the Racine County Institutions are restricted by the following statutes:
Wisc. Stats. 51.30 restricts the use of Series 51, 53, 58, 55-61, and 78. Subsections 51.30 (1) and 51.30 (4) guarantee the confidentiality of records kept by the Department of Health and Social Services, by state boards, by treatment facilities, and by persons providing services to the aforementioned department, boards, and facilities. These subsections prohibit the identification of individuals who have at any time received services for mental illness, developmental disabilities, alcoholism, or drug dependency. Subsection 51.30 (4), 3 provides a means to open these records to legitimate research with the approval of the Department of Health and Social Services. The researcher must provide assurances that information will be used only for purposes for which it was made available; that information will not be released to a person not connected with the study; and that the final product of the research will not reveal information enabling identification of individuals whose records have been examined.
Wisc. Stats. 49.45 and 49.83 restrict the use of Series 51-53, 67 and 79 and Small Series 26 and 27. Subsection 49.45 (4) prohibits the use or disclosure of information concerning the applicants and recipients of medical assistance. Subsection 49.83 prohibits the use or disclosure of information concerning applicants and recipients of general relief, of aid to families with dependent children, of social services, of child support, and of paternity services, unless such disclosure is connected with the administration of public assistance programs.
Wisc. Stats. 146.82 restricts the use of Series 66-72 and 80. The statute restricts access to health care records.
Wisc. Stats. 905.04 restricts the use of Series 52, 57, 70 and 71. Subsection 905.04 (1) guarantees the confidentiality of information given to a physician or psychologist during a consultation, an examination, or an interview. It also guarantees the confidentiality of information transmitted to persons participating in the diagnosis or treatment of patients.
