Statement by Mary R. Grealy on Regulatory Action to Improve Care for Patients with Substance Use Disorder

“The Healthcare Leadership Council commends the Department of Health and Human Services for taking important steps aimed at modernizing counterproductive regulations that are hindering effective and appropriate care for patients with substance use disorder.

“Access to relevant patient information is critical in order for medical professionals to provide patients with integrated, coordinated care, to accurately diagnose conditions, and to institute the most effective treatments to address a patient’s physical health and struggles with addiction.  As our nation copes with a drug addiction crisis, it makes little sense to maintain unnecessary barriers impeding healthcare professionals from providing the best quality care for their patients.

“These proposed rules are an important step, but Congress still needs to act in order to fully align privacy protections for substance use disorder treatment records with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  We look forward to bipartisan action that will protect patient privacy while benefiting patients by improving access to relevant data.”