OCR Launches Campaign to Better Inform Public about HIPAA Rights and Opioids

​The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced on October 25, 2018, that it is launching a new campaign to inform the public and healthcare workers about civil protections regarding evidence-based opioid use disorder treatment and recovery services. The announcement comes one year after President Trump and HHS declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. Included in the campaign is a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidance that helps to explain what information doctors can share with patients' loved ones during emergency or dangerous situations.