Recently, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the adoption of the revised Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records regulation, 42 CFR Part 2. As described in the press release, under Part 2, a federally assisted substance use disorder program may only disclose patient identifying information with the individual’s written consent, as part of a court order, or under a few limited exceptions. Health care providers, with patient’s consent, will be able to more easily conduct activities such as quality improvement, claims management, patient safety, training, and program integrity efforts. Elinore McCance-Katz, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, stated “We must do all we can to ensure the greatest access and availability to care for individuals living with substance use disorders. Although well-intentioned, the non-disclosure of critical, lifesaving information the previous rule permitted is itself stigmatizing.” To see a detailed list of changes in the final rule, click here.
- Ann Tucker