Medicare program; acquisition, protection, and disclosure of utilization and quality control peer review organization (PRO) information--HCFA. Final rule.

These regulations govern the acquisition, protection, and disclosure of information obtained or generated by Utilization and Quality Control Peer Review Organization (PROs). The Peer Review Improvement Act of 1982 authorizes PROs to acquire information necessary to fulfill their duties and functions, places limits on disclosure of PRO information, and establishes penalties for unauthorized disclosure. These regulations implement the PROs' statutory right of access to necessary information and set forth their responsibilities to assure that information once acquired is adequately safeguarded and disclosed only for proper purposes.