DHHS proposes aligning privacy rules for substance abuse patients with HIPAA

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule aligning 42 CFR Part 2 privacy regulations with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Axios reports. The proposed rule, aimed to help substance use disorder patients, requires one-time patient consent for disclosure of treatment and allows HIPAA-covered entities to access records. It also gives patients the right to know when and to whom their information was disclosed.