Protecting the Confidentiality of LGBT Individuals in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

The Federal law and regulations severely restrict communications about identifiable clients by “programs” specializing, in whole or in part, in providing treatment, counseling, and/or assessment and referral services for substance abuse problems (42 CFR §2.11). Although the Federal regulations apply only to programs that receive Federal assistance, this includes indirect forms of Federal aid, such as tax-exempt status or State or local government funding coming (in whole or in part) from the Federal Government.

Local Treatment

Family Servs League of Suffolk County
Outpatient Chemical Dep Program
631-647-3100 x4332
1444 5th Avenue
Services offered:
Substance abuse treatment, Individual counseling offered, Group counseling offered, Family counseling offered, Aftercare/continuing care, Assistance with obtaining social services, Comprehensive mental health assessment, Comprehensive substance abuse assessment, Discharge Planning, Mental health services, Outreach to persons in the community, Substance abuse education, Screening for mental health disorders, Screening for substance abuse, Case management, Naltrexone (oral), Non-nicotine smoking/tobacco cessation medications, Acamprosate(Campral®), Drug or alcohol urine screening, HIV or AIDS education, counseling, or support, Health education services other than HIV/AIDS or hepatitis, Medications for psychiatric disorders), Hepatitis education, counseling, or support, Smoking/tobacco cessation counselling, Interim services for clients, Employment counseling or training, Screening for tobacco use, Breath analyzer or blood alcohol testing, Housing services, Buprenorphine maintenance, Buprenorphine used in treatment, Early intervention for HIV, Domestic violence services - family or partner, Nicotine replacement therapy, Vivitrol® (injectable Naltrexone), Prescribes/administer buprenorphine and/or naltrexone, Relapse prevention from naltrxone,
Family Servs League of Suffolk County
Outpatient Chemical Dep Program
631-647-3100 x4332
1444 5th Avenue
Services offered:Substance abuse treatment, Individual counseling offered, Group counseling offered, Family counseling offered, Aftercare/continuing care, Assistance with obtaining social services, Comprehensive mental health assessment, Comprehensive substance abuse assessment, Discharge Planning, Mental health services, Outreach to persons in the community, Substance abuse education, Screening for mental health disorders, Screening for substance abuse, Case management, Naltrexone (oral), Non-nicotine smoking/tobacco cessation medications, Acamprosate(Campral®), Drug or alcohol urine screening, HIV or AIDS education, counseling, or support, Health education services other than HIV/AIDS or hepatitis, Medications for psychiatric disorders), Hepatitis education, counseling, or support, Smoking/tobacco cessation counselling, Interim services for clients, Employment counseling or training, Screening for tobacco use, Breath analyzer or blood alcohol testing, Housing services, Buprenorphine maintenance, Buprenorphine used in treatment, Early intervention for HIV, Domestic violence services - family or partner, Nicotine replacement therapy, Vivitrol® (injectable Naltrexone), Prescribes/administer buprenorphine and/or naltrexone, Relapse prevention from naltrxone

Service Setting:Outpatient, Intensive outpatient treatment, Regular outpatient treatment, Outpatient methadone/buprenorphine or naltrexone

Insurance Accepted:Cash or self-payment, Medicaid, Medicare, State financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid, Private health insurance, Military insurance (e.g., TRICARE), Federal, or any government funding for substance abuse programs

Protecting the Confidentiality of LGBT Individuals in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Protecting the Confidentiality of LGBT Individuals in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Confidentiality Requirements

Concerned about the adverse effects stigma and discrimination have on clients in recovery and how stigma and discrimination might deter people from entering treatment, Congress passed legislation (42 U.S.C. §290dd-2) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a set of regulations (Vol. 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations [CFR], Part 2) to protect information about clients’ substance abuse treatment.

The Federal law and regulations severely restrict communications about identifiable clients by “programs” specializing, in whole or in part, in providing treatment, counseling, and/or assessment and referral services for substance abuse problems (42 CFR §2.11). Although the Federal regulations apply only to programs that receive Federal assistance, this includes indirect forms of Federal aid, such as tax-exempt status or State or local government funding coming (in whole or in part) from the Federal Government.

The regulations for communications are more restrictive in many instances than, for example, either doctor-patient or attorney-client privilege. They protect any information about an individual who has applied for or received any substance abuse-related assessment, treatment, or referral services from a program. They apply from the time the individual makes an appointment and apply to former clients as well. They ap...

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