{"abstract":"This final rule amends the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) regulation governing the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records, to clarify one of the conditions under which a court may authorize disclosure of confidential communications made by a patient to a part 2 program as defined in this regulation. This change to the regulation is intended to clarify that a court has the authority to permit disclosure of confidential communications when the disclosure is necessary in connection with investigation or prosecution of an extremely serious crime, such as one that directly threatens loss of life or serious bodily injury, where the extremely serious crime was allegedly committed by either a patient or an individual other than the patient.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","name":"Health and Human Services Department","id":221,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/health-and-human-services-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/221","parent_id":null,"slug":"health-and-human-services-department"},{"raw_name":"Office of the Secretary"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2020/12/14/2020-25810.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"2","title":42}],"citation":"85 FR 80626","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective Date: This final rule is effective January 13, 2021.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["SAMHSA-4162-20"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2020-25810","effective_on":"2021-01-13","end_page":80632,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2020/12/14/2020-25810.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/14/2020-25810/confidentiality-of-substance-use-disorder-patient-records","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2020-25810?publication_date=2020-12-14","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2020-12-14/2020-25810/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":7,"page_views":{"count":2629,"last_updated":"2026-07-26 12:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-12-14/pdf/2020-25810.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-25810.pdf?1607694317","publication_date":"2020-12-14","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2020/12/14/2020-25810.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0930-AA30":{"issue":"202010","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0930-AA30/confidential-communications","title":"Confidential Communications","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202010&RIN=0930-AA30&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0930-AA30"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"comments_count":0,"agency_id":"HHS","comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=HHS-OS-2022-0008","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"HHS-OS-2022-0008","document_id":"HHS-OS-2022-0008-0600","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"HHS 2022 Archive","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2022-05-28T03:30:05Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":80626,"subtype":null,"title":"Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records","toc_doc":"Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Alcohol abuse","Alcoholism","Drug abuse","Grant programs-health","Health records","Privacy","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements"],"type":"Rule","volume":85}