CMS Proposes Changes To Privacy Rules For Substance-Abuse Treatment Records

Modern Healthcare (2/5, Conn, Subscription Publication) reported that CMS has proposed “modifying a key Code of Federal Regulations privacy rule covering patient records for drug and alcohol-abuse treatment, and by default, behavioral health.” The proposed change “would maintain the requirement that patient consent be obtained prior to disclosing or exchanging medical records that would identify, directly or indirectly, an individual who has been diagnosed or treated for a substance-abuse disorder.” But the change would also allow other health-related information to be disclosed without consent “if permissible, under other applicable laws.” The changes would allow a “broad general consent form” to be signed.

Related Links:

— “Proposed privacy rule changes may leave substance-abuse patients vulnerable,” Joseph Conn, Modern Healthcare, February 5, 2016.

Posted in In The News.