O.C.G.A. § 37-2-34 (2019)

The ombudsman and persons employed by or acting as agents of the ombudsman shall be deemed members of the work force of the department solely for the purposes of:

(1) Allowing the department to disclose confidential clinical records and protected health information to the ombudsman as provided for in Code Section 37-2-36;

(2) Protecting confidential clinical records and protected health information from further disclosure through or by the ombudsman and the office of the ombudsman; and

(3) Ensuring the department’s compliance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, P.L. 104-191, and the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information promulgated pursuant thereto.