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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>361087</law_id><section_number>37.2-839</section_number><catch_line>Exchange of information between community services boards or behavioral health authorities and state facilities</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>32.1-127.1:03</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="85" identifier="37.2">Behavioral Health and Developmental Services</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="III">Admissions and Dispositions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Emergency Custody and Voluntary and Involuntary Civil Admissions</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="6" identifier="7">Discharge and Transfers</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p><span class="dictionary">Community services boards</span> or behavioral health authorities and <span class="dictionary">state</span> facilities may, when the <span class="dictionary">individual</span> has refused authorization, exchange the information required to prepare and implement a comprehensive individualized treatment plan, including a discharge plan as specified in subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Discharge from state hospitals or training centers, conditional release, and trial or home visits for individuals" href="/37.2-837/">37.2-837</a>. This section shall apply to all <span class="dictionary">individuals</span> receiving services from <span class="dictionary">community services boards</span>, behavioral health authorities, and <span class="dictionary">state</span> facilities.</p><p>When an <span class="dictionary">individual</span> who is deemed suitable for discharge pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Discharge from state hospitals or training centers, conditional release, and trial or home visits for individuals" href="/37.2-837/">37.2-837</a> or his guardian or conservator refuses to authorize the release of information that is required to formulate and implement a discharge plan as specified in subsection A of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Discharge from state hospitals or training centers, conditional release, and trial or home visits for individuals" href="/37.2-837/">37.2-837</a>, then the <span class="dictionary">community services board</span> or <span class="dictionary">behavioral health authority</span> may release without authorization to those service providers and human service agencies identified in the discharge plan only the information needed to secure those services specified in the plan.</p><p>The release of any other information about an <span class="dictionary">individual receiving services</span> to any agency or person not affiliated directly or by <span class="dictionary">contract</span> with <span class="dictionary">community services boards</span>, behavioral health authorities, or <span class="dictionary">state</span> facilities shall be subject to all regulations adopted by the Board or by agencies of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span> government that govern confidentiality of patient information.</p></section></text><history>1985, c. 87, &#xA7; 37.1-98.2; 1999, c. 764; 2005, c. 716; 2012, cc. 476, 507.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
