193C—9.8(272C,542) Confidentiality of complaint and investigative information.
	9.8(1) General provisions. All complaint and investigative information received or created by the board is privileged and confidential pursuant to Iowa Code section 272C.6(4). Such information shall not be released to any person except as provided in that section.
	9.8(2) Disclosure to the subject of the investigation.
	a. 	Legal authority. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 10A.506(9), the board may supply to a licensee who is the subject of a disciplinary complaint or investigation, prior to the initiation of a disciplinary proceeding, all or such parts of a disciplinary complaint, disciplinary or investigatory file, report, or other information as the board in its sole discretion believes would aid the investigation or resolution of the matter.
	b. 	General rule. As a matter of general policy, the board will not disclose confidential complaint and investigative information to a licensee except as permitted by Iowa Code section 272C.6(4). Disclosure of a complainant’s identity in advance of the filing of formal disciplinary charges, for instance, may adversely affect a complainant’s willingness to file a complaint with the board.
	c. 	Exceptions to general rule. The board may exercise its discretion to release information to a licensee that would otherwise be confidential under Iowa Code section 272C.6(4) under narrow circumstances, including but not limited to the following:
	(1)	Following a board determination that probable cause exists to file disciplinary charges against a licensee and prior to the issuance of the notice of hearing, the board may provide the licensee with a peer review or investigative report or expert opinions as reasonably needed for the licensee to assess the merits of a settlement proposal.
	(2)	The board may release to a licensee who is the subject of a board-initiated investigation, including those initiated following the board’s receipt of an anonymous complaint, such records or information as may aid the investigation or resolution of the matter.
	(3)	The board may release information from a peer review or consultant’s report when soliciting the licensee’s position will aid in making the probable cause determination and such disclosure can be made to the licensee without revealing identifying information regarding the complainant, peer reviewer or consultant.
[ARC 7672C, IAB 3/6/24, effective 4/10/24]