The Confidentiality of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Patient Records Regulation and the HIPAA Privacy Rule: Implications for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programs

Authors: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Publication Year: 2004

Last Updated: 2011-06-13

Journal: SAMHSA

Keywords: SAMHSA, Confidentiality, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, HIPAA, Privacy Rule

Abstract: In the early 1970’s, Congress recognized that the stigma associated with substance abuse and fear of prosecution deterred people from entering treatment and enacted legislation that gave patients a right to confidentiality. For the almost three decades since the Federal confidentiality regulations (42 CFR Part 2 or Part 2) were issued, confidentiality has been a cornerstone practice for substance abuse treatment programs across the country.

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