BREAKING: HHS Proposes To Modernize Privacy Rules On Substance Abuse Records
By Jeff Byers Healthcare Dive February 5, 2016
Today, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Sylvia Burwell announced proposed revisions to the rules governing the privacy of medical records for patients with histories of substance abuse.
The proposed changes seek to facilitate exchanges of health information while addressing privacy concerns for patients seeking treatment for substance abuse. The proposed changes are specific to the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations, 42 CFR Part 2.
The Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations provide more stringent federal protections for patients with substance use disorders records than most other health privacy laws, including HIPAA, according to HHS. Those regulations haven’t been updated since 1987.
The measures signal the growing need to share health data as healthcare models become increasingly integrated and electronic infrastructure to share that data gets built out.
The agency noted in a press release announcing the changes that it “wants to ensure that patients with substance use disorders have the ability to participate in new integrated health care models without adverse consequences that could result from inappropriate disclosure of patient records.”
“This proposal will help patients with substance use disorders fully participate and benefit from a health care delivery system that’s better, smarter and healthier, while protecting their privacy,” Burwell said in a prepared statement. “We are moving Medicare, and the healthcare system as a whole, toward new integrated care models that incentivize providers to coordinate and put the patient at the center of their care, and we are modernizing our rules to protect patients.”
The sharing of health data has not come without challenges, such as privacy concerns and the risk of exposure to cyberattacks. Just last year, HealthcareDive reported that as many as 80 million current and former Anthem customers had their personal health data stolen in an attack that was, at least at the time, likely “the largest healthcare breach to date,” according to a spokesman for Anthem’s security company Mandiant.
The rule will be published in the Federal Register on February 9.
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HHS Proposes Changes To The Rules Governing The Confidentiality Of Substance Use Disorder Records
Proposed changes would facilitate health information exchange to support delivery system reform efforts while protecting the privacy of patients seeking treatment for a substance use disorder.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell today announced proposed revisions to the Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations, 42 CFR Part 2. The goal of the proposed changes, which will be published in the Federal Register on February 9, 2016, is to facilitate information exchange within new health care models while addressing the legitimate privacy concerns of patients seeking treatment for a substance use disorder.
“This proposal will help patients with substance use disorders fully participate and benefit from a health care delivery system that’s better, smarter and healthier, while protecting their privacy,” said Secretary Burwell. “We are moving Medicare, and the health care system as a whole, toward new integrated care models that incentivize providers to coordinate and put the patient at the center of their care, and we are modernizing our rules to protect patients.”
The current rules governing the confidentiality of substance use disorder records, often referred to as “Part 2,” were promulgated in 1975, during a time of great concern that the potential use of substance use disorder treatment information in criminal prosecutions would deter individuals from seeking needed treatment. These rules were last substantively updated in 1987.
HHS is proposing to modernize the existing rules because new models are built on a foundation of information sharing to support coordination of patient care; the development of an electronic infrastructure for managing and exchanging patient data; and an increased focus on performance measurement and quality improvement within the health care system. HHS wants to ensure that patients with substance use disorders have the ability to participate in new integrated health care models without adverse consequences that could result from inappropriate disclosure of patient records. Due to its targeted population, the Part 2 rules provide more stringent federal protections for patients with substance use disorders records than most other health privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
In a previous Federal Register Notice published on May 12, 2014, HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced a listening session, held June 11, 2014, to solicit feedback on the current regulations — Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records regulations, 42 CFR Part 2. SAMHSA also accepted written comments until June 25, 2014. All the feedback received from the Listening Session was considered and helped to inform the development of this NPRM.
HHS welcomes public comment on this proposed rule. Comments on the proposed changes may be submitted by using one of the methods outlined in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. To be assured consideration, comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on April 11, 2016. All comments received by that deadline will be considered by SAMHSA.