In 2016, 11.5 million Americans were misusing prescription opioids, with the abuse reaching epidemic levels in 2017. The opioid crisis has accelerated the need for healthcare stakeholders to play a more active role in managing behavioral health—and patient care to transition from siloed to integrated models.
A new webinar from Manatt Health and the eHealth Initiative (eHI) examines health information technology’s role in sharing and protecting behavioral health data as all of the healthcare players—from traditional plans and providers to emerging telehealth companies—join forces in response to the crisis. The session explores privacy and security issues in the context of the epidemic, explains the policies and regulations hindering sharing sensitive patient data and discusses how technology is affecting the use of behavioral health information. Key topics include:
- An analysis of current state and federal regulations related to sharing behavioral health and substance abuse data
- An overview of the types of sensitive patient health information—including behavioral and substance abuse data—tracked and shared among providers and payers
- The obstacles providers face in exchanging sensitive data while remaining compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 2 (42 CFR 2)
- The ways regulations interfere with care delivery, the types of information not exchanged because of privacy and security concerns, and changes that might address the challenges
- The innovative OhioHealth initiative to help providers identify those at risk of substance use disorders—and the data strategies in place to remain compliant with HIPAA, 42 CFR 2 and the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
- The technology innovations driving the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Targeted Capacity Expansion (TCE)/Technology-Assisted Care (TAC) Program, created to address the opioid crisis in states with the most dramatic increases in addiction
- The challenges and opportunities of telehealth programs in rural communities—and lessons learned from current efforts
Presenters:
Robert Belfort, Partner, Manatt Health
Alex Dworkowitz, Associate, Manatt Health
Kathy Jobes, Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer, OhioHealth
Winston J. Washington, Jr., Senior Public Health Advisor, Center for Substance Use Treatment, SAMHSA