Disclosure of mental health records to _____ may be made without express patient authorization.

The disclosure of mental health records to treating healthcare personnel within the facility without express patient authorization is permissible because these personnel are actively involved in the patient's care and treatment. In a healthcare setting, professionals who are part of a patient's treatment team have a legitimate interest in accessing relevant mental health information to provide appropriate care, ensure continuity of treatment, and make informed healthcare decisions. This principle is grounded in patient confidentiality laws, which provide exceptions for disclosures that are necessary for treatment purposes.

Treating healthcare personnel are viewed as part of the “healthcare operations” as outlined by regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which allows for sharing information among providers involved in a patient's care, ensuring the patient's well-being is prioritized.

The other options involve scenarios where patient authorization might typically be required. Family members, while they may provide support, do not automatically have access to mental health records unless the patient has expressly consented to such disclosure. Healthcare auditors appointed by the state and insurance providers may have legitimate reasons for requesting access to mental health records, but those usually require express patient consent to ensure compliance with privacy regulations.