Lawmakers Debate Ramifications Of Loosening Privacy Of Substance Abuse Records

Members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee vigorously debated Thursday (March 22) whether to loosen privacy protections for medical records related to substance abuse treatment -- a proposal that some industry groups say would improve coordination of care in Medicare. By the end of the hearing, lawmakers were far from reaching consensus on a bill sponsored by Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) that would allow providers, payers and others to more easily share patients’ records that contain information about substance...