SAMHSA delays implementation of substance use disorder confidentiality rule
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration today the effective date of its on confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records to March 21. The Office of Management and Budget last month published a calling for heads of executive departments and agencies to postpone for review for 60 days most regulations that have been published in the Federal Register but not yet taken effect. For those regulations that 鈥渞aise substantial questions of law or policy,鈥 the memorandum calls for agencies to 鈥渢ake further appropriate action in consultation with the OMB director.鈥 AHA had SAMHSA to align the final rule, the first major update to the confidentiality rule since 1987, with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.