BarbriSFCourseDetails

Course Details

This CLE webinar will provide an in-depth look at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) rule that overhauled the federal Part 2 regulations on the confidentiality of substance use disorder (SUD) patient records and what counsel and their clients should be doing now to come into compliance by Feb. 16, 2026. The panel will examine the extensive modifications that aligned Part 2 requirements more closely with HIPAA and will discuss the impact on Part 2 programs and other healthcare providers, including those who are not regulated by HIPAA as covered entities.

Faculty

Description

Although it's been a year since HHS finalized its long-awaited rule updating the federal SUD patient records regulations at 42 CFR Part 2 to more closely align with HIPAA requirements, counsel and their healthcare provider clients should understand what the final rule requires and what they should be doing now to meet the compliance deadline of Feb. 16, 2026.

Key changes in the final rule included: (1) changes to patient consent requirements for uses, disclosures, and redisclosures of SUD records; (2) alignment of certain patient rights and notice requirements under Part 2 with those under HIPAA; (3) alignment of Part 2 penalties with civil and criminal enforcement authorities that also apply to HIPAA violations; (4) application of the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule to Part 2 programs with respect to breaches of unsecured SUD records; and (5) the addition of many definitions borrowed in large part from HIPAA definitions and new definitions unique to the final rule including that of SUD counseling notes.

Given the expansive scope of the final rule, counsel and their affected clients should be preparing for implementation now including evaluating what programs may be subject to Part 2 and the final rule, updating consent policies and forms, updating patient notices, and ensuring that health information management systems are compliant.

Listen as our expert panel provides an in-depth look at HHS' final rule governing Part 2 SUD patient records confidentiality and offers best practices for preparing for compliance.

Outline

I. Introduction: rule history

II. HHS final rule 

A. Patient consent

B. Patient rights and notice

C. Other uses and disclosures

D. Segregation of Part 2 data

E. New definitions

F. Safe harbor for investigative agencies

G. Penalties and enforcement

H. Breach notification

I. Patient complaints

J. Additional considerations

III. Practitioner takeaways: assisting clients to prepare for compliance


Benefits

The panel will review these and other key considerations:

  • How does the final rule align Part 2 SUD patient records confidentiality requirements more closely with HIPAA?
  • What impact will the final rule have on Part 2 programs' current consent and notice documents? On information management?
  • What should counsel and clients be doing now to prepare for the final rule's implementation?