(a)Notwithstanding the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code), the director is not required to disclose any of the following records, or any portion thereof, that are filed by a pharmacy benefit manager with the director in compliance with the requirements of this article, that have not previously been made public:
(1)Corporate financial records, including trade secrets, the information has been confidentially maintained by the business entity, and the release of the information would be damaging or prejudicial to the business concern.
(2)Any application, including an application for an interpretive opinion, including all records that are submitted with the application that are necessary for purposes of the application.
(3)Any record the disclosure of which is exempt under express
provisions of the California Public Records Act, the disclosure of which is exempt or prohibited pursuant to federal or state law, including, but not limited to, provisions of the Evidence Code relating to privilege, or that, on the facts of the particular case, the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record.
(b)Notwithstanding any request for confidentiality of information submitted to and processed by the department consistent with regulations adopted and amended pursuant to this chapter relating to the request for confidentiality of information, the disclosure of records, or any portion thereof, is governed by this section.
(c)Notwithstanding any other provision of this
article, the director shall disclose information or records submitted to the director in compliance with this article to the Attorney General, upon request, in order to investigate, prosecute, or defend any legal claim or cause or action related to this article, or to use the reports in any court or proceeding related to this article.