42 U.S.C. § 290dd–2 (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE)
§ 290dd–2. Confidentiality of records
(a) Requirement
Records of the identity, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of any patient which are maintained in connection with the performance of any program or activity relating to substance abuse education, prevention, training, treatment, rehabilitation, or research, which is conducted, regulated, or directly or indirectly assisted by any department or agency of the United States shall, except as provided in subsection (e), be confidential and be disclosed only for the purposes and under the circumstances expressly authorized under subsection (b).
(b) Permitted disclosure
(1) Consent
The content of any record referred to in subsection (a) may be disclosed in accordance with the prior written consent of the patient with respect to whom such record is maintained, but only to such extent, under such circumstances, and for such purposes as may be allowed under regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (g).
(2) Method for disclosure
Whether or not the patient, with respect to whom any given record referred to in subsection (a) is maintained, gives written consent, the content of such record may be disclosed as follows:
(A) To medical personnel to the extent necessary to meet a bona fide medical emergency.
(B) To qualified personnel for the purpose of conducting scientific research, management audits, financial audits, or program evaluation, but such personnel may not identify, directly or indirectly, any individual patient in any report of such research, audit, or evaluation, or otherwise disclose patient identities in any manner.
(C) If authorized by an appropriate order of a court of competent jurisdiction granted after application showing good cause therefor, including the need to avert a substantial risk of death or serious bodily harm. In assessing good cause the court shall weigh the public interest and the need for disclosure against the injury to the patient, to the physician-patient relationship, and to the treatment services. Upon the granting of such order, the court, in determining the extent to which any disclosure of all or any part of any record is necessary, shall impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized disclosure.
(c) Use of records in criminal proceedings
Except as authorized by a court order granted under subsection (b)(2)(C), no record referred to in subsection (a) may be used to initiate or substantiate any criminal charges against a patient or to conduct any investigation of a patient.
(d) Application
The prohibitions of this section continue to apply to records concerning any individual who has been a patient, irrespective of whether or when such individual ceases to be a patient.
(e) Nonapplicability
The prohibitions of this section do not apply to any interchange of records—
(1) within the Uniformed Services or within those components of the Department of Veterans Affairs furnishing health care to veterans; or
(2) between such components and the Uniformed Services.
The prohibitions of this section do not apply to the reporting under State law of incidents of suspected child abuse and neglect to the appropriate State or local authorities.
(f) Penalties
Any person who violates any provision of this section or any regulation issued pursuant to this section shall be fined in accordance with title 18.
(g) Regulations
Except as provided in subsection (h), the Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this section. Such regulations may contain such definitions, and may provide for such safeguards and procedures, including procedures and criteria for the issuance and scope of orders under subsection (b)(2)(C), as in the judgment of the Secretary are necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of this section, to prevent circumvention or evasion thereof, or to facilitate compliance therewith.
(h) Application to Department of Veterans Affairs
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the Under Secretary for Health, shall, to the maximum feasible extent consistent with their responsibilities under title 38, prescribe regulations making applicable the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under subsection (g) to records maintained in connection with the provision of hospital care, nursing home care, domiciliary care, and medical services under such title 38 to veterans suffering from substance abuse. In prescribing and implementing regulations pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, from time to time, consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to achieve the maximum possible coordination of the regulations, and the implementation thereof, which they each prescribe.
(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 543, formerly Pub. L. 91–616, title III, § 321, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1852, as amended Pub. L. 93–282, title I, § 121(a), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 130; Pub. L. 94–371, § 11(a), (b), July 26, 1976, 90 Stat. 1041; Pub. L. 94–581, title I, § 111(c)(1), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2852; renumbered § 522 of act July 1, 1944, and amended Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(13), Apr. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 181; renumbered § 543, Pub. L. 100–77, title VI, § 611(2), July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 516; Pub. L. 102–321, title I, § 131, July 10, 1992, 106 Stat. 368; Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(e)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1985; Pub. L. 105–392, title IV, § 402(c), Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3588.)
heading: Codification
text: Section was formerly classified to section 4581 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 98–24.
heading: Amendments
text: 1998—Subsec. (e)(1), (2). Pub. L. 105–392 substituted “Uniformed Services” for “Armed Forces”.
1992—Pub. L. 102–405 substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director” in subsec. (h).
Pub. L. 102–321 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to confidentiality of records for provisions relating to admission of alcohol abusers and alcoholics to general hospitals and outpatient facilities.
1983—Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(13), renumbered section 4581 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(13)(C), made a technical amendment to reference to section 300s–3 of this title.
1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–371, § 11(a), inserted “, or outpatient facility (as defined in section 300s–3(6) of this title)” after “hospital”.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 94–371, § 11(b), inserted “and outpatient facilities” after “hospitals”, and “or outpatient facility” after “hospital” wherever appearing, and substituted “shall issue regulations not later than December 31, 1976” for “is authorized to make regulations”.
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 94–581 provided that subsec. (b)(2), which directed the Administrator of Veteran’s Affairs, through the Chief Medical Director, to prescribe regulations making applicable the regulations prescribed by the Secretary under subsec. (b)(1) to the provision of hospital care, nursing home care, domiciliary care, and medical services under title 38 to veterans suffering from alcohol abuse or alcoholism and to consult with the Secretary in order to achieve the maximum possible coordination of the regulations, and the implementation thereof, which they each prescribed, was superseded by section 4131 [now 7331] et seq. of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits.
1974—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–282, in revising text, prohibited discrimination because of alcohol abuse, substituted provisions respecting eligibility for admission and treatment based on suffering from medical conditions for former provision based on medical need and ineligibility, because of discrimination, for support in any form from any program supported in whole or in part by funds appropriated to any Federal department or agency for former requirement for treatment by a general hospital which received Federal funds, and deleted prohibition against receiving Federal financial assistance for violation of section and for termination of Federal assistance on failure to comply, now incorporated in regulation authorization of subsec. (b) of this section.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–282 substituted provisions respecting issuance of regulations by the Secretary concerning enforcement procedures and suspension or revocation of Federal support and by the Administrator concerning applicable regulations for veterans, and for coordination of the respective regulations for former provisions respecting judicial review.
heading: Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 102–321 effective Oct. 1, 1992, with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of Pub. L. 102–321, set out as a note under section 236 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits.
heading: Jessie’s Law
text: Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, §§ 7051–7053, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4017, 4018, provided that:
“SEC. 7051. INCLUSION OF OPIOID ADDICTION HISTORY IN PATIENT RECORDS.
“(a) Best Practices.—
“(1) In general.—
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 24, 2018], the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘Secretary’), in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, including a patient with a history of opioid use disorder, an expert in electronic health records, an expert in the confidentiality of patient health information and records, and a health care provider, shall identify or facilitate the development of best practices regarding—
“(A) the circumstances under which information that a patient has provided to a health care provider regarding such patient’s history of opioid use disorder should, only at the patient’s request, be prominently displayed in the medical records (including electronic health records) of such patient;
“(B) what constitutes the patient’s request for the purpose described in subparagraph (A); and
“(C) the process and methods by which the information should be so displayed.
“(2) Dissemination.—
The Secretary shall disseminate the best practices developed under paragraph (1) to health care providers and State agencies.
“(b) Requirements.—
In identifying or facilitating the development of best practices under subsection (a), as applicable, the Secretary, in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall consider the following:
“(1) The potential for addiction relapse or overdose, including overdose death, when opioid medications are prescribed to a patient recovering from opioid use disorder.
“(2) The benefits of displaying information about a patient’s opioid use disorder history in a manner similar to other potentially lethal medical concerns, including drug allergies and contraindications.
“(3) The importance of prominently displaying information about a patient’s opioid use disorder when a physician or medical professional is prescribing medication, including methods for avoiding alert fatigue in providers.
“(4) The importance of a variety of appropriate medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, having access to information described in this section when prescribing or dispensing opioid medication, consistent with Federal and State laws and regulations.
“(5) The importance of protecting patient privacy, including the requirements related to consent for disclosure of substance use disorder information under all applicable laws and regulations.
“(6) All applicable Federal and State laws and regulations.
“SEC. 7052. COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES DURING EMERGENCIES.
“(a) Promoting Awareness of Authorized Disclosures During Emergencies.—
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall annually notify health care providers regarding permitted disclosures under Federal health care privacy law during emergencies, including overdoses, of certain health information to families, caregivers, and health care providers.
“(b) Use of Material.—
For the purposes of carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services may use material produced under section 7053 of this Act or section 11004 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note).
“SEC. 7053. DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF MODEL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PATIENT RECORDS.
“(a) Initial Programs and Materials.—
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 24, 2018], the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the ‘Secretary’), in consultation with appropriate experts, shall identify the following model programs and materials (or if no such programs or materials exist, recognize private or public entities to develop and disseminate such programs and materials):
“(1) Model programs and materials for training health care providers (including physicians, emergency medical personnel, psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, therapists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, behavioral health facilities and clinics, care managers, and hospitals, including individuals such as general counsels or regulatory compliance staff who are responsible for establishing provider privacy policies) concerning the permitted uses and disclosures, consistent with the standards and regulations governing the privacy and security of substance use disorder patient records promulgated by the Secretary under section 543 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd–2) for the confidentiality of patient records.
“(2) Model programs and materials for training patients and their families regarding their rights to protect and obtain information under the standards and regulations described in paragraph (1).
“(b) Requirements.—
The model programs and materials described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) shall address circumstances under which disclosure of substance use disorder patient records is needed to—
“(1) facilitate communication between substance use disorder treatment providers and other health care providers to promote and provide the best possible integrated care;
“(2) avoid inappropriate prescribing that can lead to dangerous drug interactions, overdose, or relapse; and
“(3) notify and involve families and caregivers when individuals experience an overdose.
“(c) Periodic Updates.—
The Secretary shall—
“(1) periodically review and update the model program and materials identified or developed under subsection (a); and
“(2) disseminate such updated programs and materials to the individuals described in subsection (a)(1).
“(d) Input of Certain Entities.—
In identifying, reviewing, or updating the model programs and materials under this section, the Secretary shall solicit the input of relevant stakeholders.
“(e) Authorization of Appropriations.—
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section—
“(1) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;
“(2) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021; and
“(3) $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023.”
heading: Report of Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs to Congressional Committees; Publication in Federal Register
text: Pub. L. 93–282, title I, § 121(b), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 131, which directed Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs to submit to appropriate committees of House of Representatives and Senate a full report (1) on regulations (including guidelines, policies, and procedures thereunder) he had prescribed pursuant to section 321(b)(2) of Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 [former 42 U.S.C. 290dd–2(b)(2)], (2) explaining bases for any inconsistency between such regulations and regulations of Secretary under section 321(b)(1) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 290dd–2(b)(1)], (3) on extent, substance, and results of his consultations with Secretary respecting prescribing and implementation of Administrator’s regulations, and (4) containing such recommendations for legislation and administrative actions as he determined were necessary and desirable, with Administrator to submit report not later than sixty days after effective date of regulations prescribed by Secretary under such section 321(b)(1) [42 U.S.C. 290dd–2(b)(1)], and to publish such report in Federal Register, was characterized by section 111(c)(5) of Pub. L. 94–581 as having been superseded by section 4134 [now 7334] of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits.