Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced in July of 2021 the adoption of the revised Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records regulation, 42 CFR Part 2. The adoption of this revised rule will reduce the barriers to care coordination and improve patient safety. Collaboration between both divisions, IDHS/SUPR (Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery) and IDHS/ILPMP (Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program) have made forward movement in improving healthcare outcomes while reducing barriers which, in turn, has increased patient safety in Opioid Treatment Programs. With patient consent, the ease of sharing information among providers will enable better, higher-quality care for those with Opioid Use Disorders. 

Many drugs prescribed and dispensed by non-Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) could have life-threatening consequences if not properly coordinated with those prescribed and dispensed by OTPs. Therefore, it is necessary for OTPs to report, and to access, prescription drug records in the ILPMP, and to monitor accordingly. 

Please join us virtually on August 31 at 10am, National Overdose Awareness Day in Illinois, as we discuss how impactful this law is for people with Opioid Use Disorders, ultimately reducing potential for overdose in Illinois.