HHS Hands Privacy Enforcement Baton to Civil Rights Office Director
Published Date: 8/27/2025
Notice
Summary
The Secretary of Health and Human Services has officially handed over important powers to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights. This means the Director can now handle rules and penalties related to keeping substance use disorder patient records private. These changes start right away and could involve money penalties and legal actions to make sure the rules are followed.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
OCR Gains Power to Enforce SUD Privacy
If you are a patient with substance use disorder, the Secretary delegated to the Office for Civil Rights the authority to administer and enforce the confidentiality rules at 42 CFR part 2 (42 U.S.C. 290dd-2). That authority to interpret, implement, and enforce these privacy protections is effective August 25, 2025.
New Enforcement Tools and Penalties for Record Holders
If you hold or handle substance use disorder patient records, OCR can now impose civil money penalties under section 1176 of the Social Security Act, enter into monetary settlements and corrective action plans, and issue subpoenas for compliance reviews under 42 CFR part 2. These enforcement powers are delegated to OCR effective August 25, 2025.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20447, Transparency in Coverage
Starting soon, health plans and insurers must share clearer, easier-to-understand price info for medical services and drugs. This helps you see what in-network and out-of-network costs really look like, with more details and better updates. These changes affect most group and individual health plans and kick in with new reporting rules to make healthcare pricing more transparent and fair.
2026-20281, Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model
Starting November 30, 2026, Medicare will use the new GLOBE Model to help lower the cost of certain drugs for people on Original Medicare. This model changes how drug price increases are calculated, aiming to save money for both patients and the Medicare program without cutting care quality. If you’re on Medicare Part B, expect smarter drug pricing that helps keep your healthcare affordable.
2026-20131, Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in the Medicare payment rules for inpatient rehab facilities starting October 1, 2026. It mainly affects hospitals and rehab centers by clarifying how wage data and payments are calculated, ensuring fairer payment rates for fiscal year 2027. No big changes in money, but it keeps everything accurate and on track.
2026-19959, Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2027; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in Medicare payment rules for skilled nursing facilities starting October 1, 2026. It mainly affects how hospital data is used to calculate payments, making sure no current hospitals are wrongly excluded. These tweaks help keep Medicare payments fair and accurate for providers and patients.
2026-20067, Medicare Program; FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in the FY 2027 hospice payment and wage index rules that were first published in August 2026. It mainly affects hospice providers by updating how their payments are calculated, making sure the numbers are accurate starting October 1, 2026. These changes help ensure hospices get the right payment amounts based on the latest hospital wage data.
2026-19946, Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; Other Policy Changes; and Adoption of Updated Versions of Certain Health Information Technology Standards; Correction
This update fixes some typos and technical mistakes in the Medicare payment rules for hospitals starting October 1, 2026. It affects hospitals getting paid for patient care, making sure the payment system and quality programs run smoothly. These corrections help hospitals get the right payments and follow updated health tech standards without delays or confusion.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-16390, Notice of August 2025 Decisions on Petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions Under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
The EPA just decided on 175 requests from small refineries asking to skip some renewable fuel rules. These decisions affect small refineries across the country, changing who must follow the Renewable Fuel Standard and who gets a break. The updates were announced on August 22, 2025, and could impact refinery costs and fuel production starting now.
Next: 2025-16392, Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Notice of Supplemental Funding Opportunity
SAMHSA is giving extra money to 59 states and territories that already get Community Mental Health Services Block Grants. This boost follows a special formula based on population and service costs, helping them improve mental health support. The new funds must be used by September 30, 2026, so recipients have time to make a real difference.