ACT NOW:
Modernize Privacy Laws to Combat Opioid Epidemic
Call Your U.S. Representative to Support H.R. 5795!
42 CFR Part 2 (Part 2) is a law that regulates the sharing of substance use disorder (SUD) records, limiting the use and disclosure of such records unless a patient provides his or her written consent. Protecting patients’ confidentiality is of the utmost importance. But because substance use disorders can have a complicated ripple effect on a patient’s health that must be carefully managed and coordinated, Part 2 poses a serious safety threat to persons with SUD because providers are often unaware of the risks to their patient from multiple drug interactions and co-existing medical problems.
Introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Congressman Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), H.R. 5795, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety (OPPS) Act, enables the appropriate sharing of substance use disorder records by aligning 42 CFR Part 2 with HIPAA for purposes of treatment, payment and operations. H.R. 5795 also includes criminal, civil and administrative protections for patients during legal proceedings and applies HIPAA penalties to the Part 2 program to ensure that patients can seek treatment without fear of their information being shared inappropriately.
What you can do to help.
We ask that MSHIMA members contact their respective Congressman and ask them to support H.R. 5795. You may do so easily by visiting AHIMA Engage. Click here for a direct link to the action page.
We thank you for your support.
