Section 155.006 - Protection of Reporting Individuals and Other Parties(A) The identity of any mandatory or nonmandatory reporting individual who makes a report of suspected patient or resident abuse, neglect, mistreatment or misappropriation of patient or resident property pursuant to 105 CMR 155.000; or, of any patient or resident whose name appears in a report made pursuant to 105 CMR 155.000; or, of any persons whose right to privacy would be abridged by disclosure of their identities shall be treated as confidential information. Except as otherwise required by law, the identity of any of these individuals shall not be disclosed to any person except duly authorized staff of the Department, the Attorney General, or the appropriate registration board, without the prior written consent of the affected individual.(B) Any person who makes an oral or written report of suspected patient or resident abuse, neglect, mistreatment or misappropriation of property to the Department pursuant to 105 CMR 155.000 shall not be liable in any civil or criminal action as a result of that report if such report was made in good faith.(C) No facility, home health agency, homemaker agency, hospice program or individual shall discharge, or in any manner discriminate or retaliate against, or take any other adverse action against any person because that person, in good faith: (1) makes, or attempts to make, any report of suspected patient or resident abuse, neglect, mistreatment or misappropriation of patient or resident property to the Department;(2) provides, or attempts to provide, the Department with any information, testimonial or otherwise, during the course of any investigation into any case of suspected patient or resident abuse, neglect, mistreatment or misappropriation of patient or resident property; or(3) testifies or is about to testify in any proceeding about the abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of patients or residents or the misappropriation of patient or resident property.(D) A facility, home health agency, homemaker agency or hospice program which discharges, discriminates or retaliates against such a person shall be liable to the person so discharged, discriminated or retaliated against, for treble damages, costs and attorneys' fees.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1340, eff. 6/2/2017.