Rules on Confidentiality of SUD Treatment Records Updated to Enhance Coordination of Care

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)announced yesterday that it hasrevised regulations governing the disclosure of information about a patient ’s history of substance use disorders (SUDs). The changes are intended to help advance coordination of treatment of patients under the care of multiple health care professionals.The regulations that were revised fall under 42 CFR Part 2 and govern confidentiality of SUD treatment records.The 42 CFR Part 2 regulations were designed to protect patient records created by federally assisted programs ( “Part 2 programs”) for the treatment of SUD. With the revisions announced by SAMHSA yesterday, treatment records created by non-Part 2 health care professionals evaluating or caring for patients with SUD are explicitlynot covered by Part 2, thereby allowing coordination of SUD care by non-Part 2 health care professionals.Additionally, declared national emergencies (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) that disrupt treatment facilities and services are considered under the revised guidelines to be a “bona fide medical emergency” for the purposes of disclosing SUD records without patient consent.HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore F. McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., said the adoption of this rule means Americans will be better able to receive integrated and coordinated care in the treatment of their substance use disorders. “We are grateful to the individuals and organizations th...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: 42 CFR Part 2 CARES Act confidentiality Elinore F. McCance-Katz HIPAA samhsa Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration substance use disorders SUD Source Type: research