Overview:

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), through SAMHSA and the Office for Civil Rights, has issued a pivotal final rule that modernizes the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records regulations under 42 CFR Part 2.

This webinar is designed to guide practice managers, business administrators, and compliance officers in understanding and implementing these critical changes. We will provide a clear roadmap for ensuring your organization's compliance with the updated SAMHSA regulations and present a comparative analysis that distinguishes 42 CFR Part 2 from the more familiar HIPAA rules.

Key Regulatory Updates Include:

• Streamlined Patient Consent: Permits a single consent for all future uses and disclosures related to treatment, payment, and healthcare operations, and allows for redisclosure in accordance with HIPAA by covered entities.

• Revised Penalty Structure: Aligns Part 2 penalties with HIPAA by incorporating similar civil and criminal enforcement authorities.

• Breach Notification: Formally applies the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requirements to breaches of Part 2 records.

• Updated Patient Notice: Aligns Part 2 patient notice requirements with the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

• Investigative Safe Harbor: Establishes a limit on liability for investigative agencies that exercise reasonable diligence in determining a provider's status under Part 2.

Webinar Highlights:

• Analysis of the latest SAMHSA (42 CFR Part 2) updates effective January 2024.

• Comparative analysis of SAMHSA versus HIPAA requirements.

• Practical insights for securing and properly releasing sensitive patient information.

• Real-world scenarios and FAQs addressing substance abuse, mental health, and alcohol records.

• Strategies for maintaining robust information security and compliant release protocols.

Why Should You Attend:

The 42 CFR Part 2 regulations are designed to protect the confidentiality of patient records created by federally assisted substance use disorder treatment programs. These recent modifications aim to improve care coordination in response to the opioid crisis while preserving core privacy protections.

Attending this webinar is essential to understand the nuanced compliance obligations governing this highly sensitive data, mitigate the risk of severe penalties, and ensure your organization's information handling practices are fully aligned with the latest federal standards.

Who Should Attend:

• Practice Managers and Compliance Officers

• Medical Professionals (MDs, DOs, NPs, etc.)

• All Business Associates handling this sensitive data, including:

  • Billing and Transcription Companies

  • IT Firms and Answering Services

  • Home Health Agencies

  • Medical Coders and Attorneys