HHS Fact Sheets and FAQs Address Confidentiality Protections for Patients Treated for Substance Abuse Disorder

​The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued two fact sheets to help healthcare providers and health information exchange organizations understand how to appropriately access and share the records of patients seeking treatment for a substance use disorder. The fact sheets incorporate the provisions of a 2017 final rule, which updated regulation 42 CFR Part 2 to protect the confidentiality of patients with substance use disorder while supporting information exchange within new healthcare delivery models. The fact sheets were prepared by HHS's Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The rule applies to so-called "Part 2 programs."