In the long-awaited rulemaking amending 42 CFR Part 2, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) said August 22 it will now allow opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to put patient information into Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). Each state has a PDMP, which tracks controlled substances prescribing and dispensing. SAMHSA in 2011 told OTPs not to put patient information into a PDMP (http://atforum.com/documents/dearColl-pmp2011.pdf) but under the proposed rule, if states allow it, SAMHSA will, too. This means methadone patients would have only as much confidentiality as the PDMP gives them.For the proposed rules, which cover many changes, go to https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-17817.pdf (General revisions to 42 CFR Part 2) Comment period 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, expected Monday, August 26.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-17816.pdf (Law enforcement investigations can get records not limited to the patient who allegedly committed a serious crime) Comment deadline 30 days after publication in Federal Register, expected Monday August 26.
