Proposed Rule Loosens 42 CFR Part 2 But Congress Must Align With HIPAA

Substance use record privacy restrictions would be loosened under a rule proposed Thursday (Aug. 22) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), but HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the administration is limited in fully aligning the scheme with the less-stringent Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and would support congressional action to do so. The proposed rule released Thursday (Aug. 22) is part of HHS’s so-called Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care, championed by HHS Deputy Secretary...