Pub. L. 93-282, tit. III, sec. 303

Sec. 303. (a) Section 408 of the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 (21 U.S.C. 1175) is amended to read as follows: “§408. Confidentiality of patient records “(a) Records of the identity, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of any patient which are maintained in connection with the performance of any drug abuse prevention function conducted, regulated, or directly or indirectly assisted by any department or agency of the United States shall, except as provided in subsection (e), be confidential and be disclosed only for the purposes and under the circumstances expressly authorized under subsection (b) of this section. “(b) (1) The content of any record referred to in subsection (a) may be disclosed in accordance with the prior written consent of the patient with respect to whom such record is maintained, but only to such extent, under such circumstances, and for such purposes as may be allowed under regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (g). “(2) Whether or not the patient, with respect to whom any given record referred to in subsection (a) of this section is maintained, gives his written consent, the content of such record may be disclosed as follows: “(A) To medical personnel to the extent necessary to meet a bona fide medical emergency. “(B) To qualified personnel for the purpose of conducting scientific research, management audits, financial audits, or program evaluation, but such personnel may not identify, directly or indirectly, any individual patient in any report of such research, audit, or evaluation, or otherwise disclose patient identities in any manner. “(C) If authorized by an appropriate order of a court of competent jurisdiction granted after application showing good cause therefor. In assessing good cause the court shall weigh the public interest and the need for disclosure against the injury to the patient, to the physician-patient relationship, and to the treatment services. Upon the granting of such order, the court, in deter-88 Stat. 138mining the extent to which any disclosure of all or any part of any record is necessary, shall impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized disclosure. “(c) Except as authorized by a court order granted under subsection (b)(2)(C) of this section, no record referred to in subsection (a) may be used to initiate or substantiate any criminal charges against a patient or to conduct any investigation of a patient. “(d) The prohibitions of this section continue to apply to records concerning any individual who has been a patient, irrespective of whether or when he ceases to be a patient. “(e) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to any interchange of records— “(1) within the Armed Forces or within those components of the Veterans’ Administration furnishing health care to veterans, or “(2) between such components and the Armed Forces. “(f) Any person who violates any provision of this section or any regulation issued pursuant to this section shall be fined not more than $500 in the case of a first offense, and not more than $5,000 in the case of each subsequent offense. “(g) The Director of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention, after consultation with the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies substantially affected thereby, shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this section. These regulations may contain such definitions, and may provide for such safeguards and procedures, including procedures and criteria for the issuance and scope of orders under subsection (b) (2) (C), as in the judgment of the Director are necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of this section, to prevent circumvention or evasion thereof, or to facilitate compliance therewith.”. (b) (1) Effective on the date specified in section 104 of the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 (21 U.S.C. 1104), the first sentence of section 408(g) of that Act (21 U.S.C. 1175) is amended by striking “Director of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention” and inserting in lieu thereof “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare”, and the second sentence of such section is amended by striking “Director” and inserting “Secretary” in lieu thereof. (2) Effective on the date specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection, section 408 of such Act is further amended by— (A) striking out “The” and inserting in lieu thereof “Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, the” in the first sentence of subsection (g) of such section; and (B) adding at the end of such section the following new subsection: “(h) The Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs, through the Chief Medical Director, shall, to the maximum feasible extent consistent with their responsibilities under title 38, United States Code, prescribe regulations making applicable the regulations established by the Secretary under subsection (g) of this section to records maintained in connection with the provision of hospital care, nursing home care, domiciliary care, and medical services under such title 38 to veterans suffering from drug abuse. In prescribing and implementing regulations pursuant to this subsection, the Administrator shall, from time to time, consult with the Secretary in order to achieve the maximum possible coordination of the regulations, and the implementation thereof, which they each prescribe.”. 88 Stat. 139 (c) The Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate a full report (1) on the regulations (including guidelines, policies, and procedures thereunder) he has prescribed pursuant to section 408(h) of the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972, (2) explaining the bases for any inconsistency between such regulations and the regulations of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under section 408(g) of that Act, (3) on the extent, substance, and results of his consultations with the Secretary respecting the prescribing and implementation of the Administrator’s regulations, and (4) containing such recommendations for legislation and administrative actions as he determines are necessary and desirable. The Administrator shall submit such report not later than sixty days after the effective date of the regulations prescribed by the Secretary under such section 408(g), and shall timely publish such report in the Federal Register. (d) Any regulation under or with respect to section 408 of the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 (21 U.S.C. 1175) issued by the Director of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention prior to the date specified in section 104 of that Act (21 U.S.C. 1104), whether before or after the enactment of this Act, shall remain in effect until revoked or amended by the Director or the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, as the case may be.