Press release
WASHINGTON—The opioid crisis takes the lives of 115 Americans each day. Today, the House acted to reduce the tragic amount of overdose deaths by passing H.R. 6082, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act, sponsored by Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-2).
“Doctors must have the whole picture on a patient’s medical history in order to safely and effectively treat that patient,” said Mullin. “This includes any history of substance use disorder. The Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act will update the decades-old, outdated law, known as 42 CFR Part 2, which keeps mental health records separate from other health records. H.R. 6082 will modernize how doctors access their patients’ health records by streamlining 42 CFR Part 2 with current Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. I want to thank my colleague Congressman Blumenauer for his efforts to bring this piece of legislation to the House floor. I look forward to swift passage of H.R. 6082 in the Senate so that doctors can safely treat patients with substance use disorder and cut down on the harrowing number of overdose deaths each day.”
“The opioid crisis is ravaging our families, our communities, and our country,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Walden (R-OR). “The Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act removes an outdated and dangerous barrier that currently prevents doctors from accessing mental health records when treating a patient with substance use disorder. I’m grateful to Congressman Mullin for his role in combating the crisis next door, and for putting forth this practical, bipartisan piece of legislation.”
The House passed H.R. 6082, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act, by a vote of 357 – 57.
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