Health and Human Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), finalized modifications to the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records regulations at 42 CFR part 2 (“Part 2”), which protect the privacy of patients’ SUD treatment records.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released results of the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The NSDUH provides information on substance use and mental health rates in the United States with data on the self-reported use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs; substance use disorders; mental health conditions; and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. SAMSHA also released a high-level brief of the report with infographics.

Celebrate and honor the culture, traditions, and achievements of the nation's original inhabitants and of their descendants. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) honor the history, culture, and legacy of Tribal nations and Indigenous communities across the United States. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has now added American Sign Language (ASL) services to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. An ongoing effort of the HHS is to expand accessibility to behavioral health care for underserved communities, which includes individuals who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the progress made since the release of the Overdose Prevention Strategy (Strategy) last fall. The new data shows treatment capacity, lives saved from overdose, and commitments to long-term recovery supports, as well as a hopeful trend of a decrease in overdose deaths.

This week, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, through the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced proposed changes to the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Patient Records under 42 CFR part 2 (“Part 2”), which protects patient privacy and records concerning treatment related to substance use challenges from unauthorized disclosures.

In August 2022, HRSA announced investments of nearly $60 million in combined awards across five programs to increase access to quality health care in rural communities. These programs address workforce shortages, the sustainability of small rural hospitals, and high quality care to rural veterans.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced nearly $15 million awarded to rural communities to continue addressing misuse of illegal and prescription drugs known as psychostimulants.  These awards are part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative with $400 million invested since its start in 2018.

These contingency management resources include a statement and advisory opinions from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Additionally, the Contingency Management factsheet provides an overview of the approach.

Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is announcing two grant programs totaling $25.6 million that will expand access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and prevent the misuse of prescription drugs. By reducing barriers to accessing the most effective, evidenced-based treatments, this funding reflects the priorities of HHS' Overdose Prevention Strategy, as well as its new initiative to strengthen the nation's mental health and crisis care systems.