The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has announced the adoption of revised Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records regulation, 42 CFR Part 2. The new rule advances the integration of health care for individuals with substance use disorders while maintaining critical privacy and confidentiality protections. Health care providers, with patients’ consent, will be able to more easily conduct such activities as quality improvement, claims management, patient safety, training and program integrity efforts. The ease of sharing information, with patient consent, among providers will enable better, higher-quality care for those with substance use disorders. The changes also serve as an important milestone in further aligning 42 CFR Part 2 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) regulations. View a list of the changes in the final rule, which goes into effect Aug. 14, 2020.
