Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule designed to enhance care coordination for people with substance use disorder (SUD). The final rule modifies regulations related to patient records for people with SUD by granting greater information-sharing flexibilities among applicable providers to enhance care coordination and simplify SUD record-keeping. Notably, the rule also allows federally assisted SUD providers, such as outpatient SUD and opioid treatment programs, to obtain a single, general record-sharing consent from a patient for all current and future disclosures.

To help people with SUD feel safe seeking the treatment they need, there is an opportunity to educate patients and providers on what can and cannot happen with SUD records as a result of this recent rule. Health care providers, policymakers, and health plans can use this Better Care Playbook Evidence Roundup to better understand implications of the rule and find evidence-based resources to help them navigate the change.

The Playbook’s Evidence Roundup series links critical evidence and implementation resources with emerging state and federal policies to help inform efforts to improve health and health-related services for people with complex health and social needs.