PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jun 13, 2018
Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to align federal privacy standards for substance use disorder (SUD) patient records more closely with standards under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Specifically, the bill authorizes the disclosure of SUD patient records without a patient's written consent to: (1) a covered entity for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations, as long as the disclosure is made in accordance with HIPAA; and (2) a public health authority, as long as the content of the disclosure meets HIPAA standards regarding de-identified information. Current law authorizes disclosure of SUD patient records without a patient's written consent only to medical personnel in a medical emergency, to specified personnel for research or program evaluations, or pursuant to a court order.
The bill also repeals and replaces criminal penalties for certain violations involving SUD patient records with the HIPAA civil penalty structure. It also applies HIPAA criminal penalties to wrongful disclosures of SUD patient records. In addition, the bill expands the current prohibition against using SUD patient records in criminal proceedings to include any use in specified federal, state, and local criminal and civil actions.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The bill prohibits certain discrimination based on the release of SUD information under this bill.
People & committees
Rep. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK-2] · R–OK
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 357 - 57 (Roll no. 278). (text: CR H5325-5326)
House roll call 278 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 357 - 57 (Roll no. 278).(text: CR H5325-5326)
House roll call 278 · Individual votesOn motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 175 - 240 (Roll no. 277).
House roll call 277 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5346-5347)
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on Pallone motion to recommit with instructions, the Chair put the question on the motion, and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Pallone demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the motion to recommit with instructions until a time to be announced.
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pallone motion to recommit with instructions pending a reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to promote subsection (k) to become a section entitled Developement and Dissemination of Model Training Programs for Substance Use Disorder Patient Records. Subsequently, the reservation was removed.
Mr. Pallone moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text: CR H5333-5334)
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 6082.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6, H.R. 5797 and H.R. 6082. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6 and H.R.5797 under structured rules; and provides for consideration of H.R. 6082 under a closed rule. Additionally, the rule directs the Clerk to, in the engrossment of H.R. 6, add the text of H.R. 2851, H.R. 5735, and H.R. 5797 as passed by the House as a new matter at the end of H.R. 6.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 949. (consideration: CR H5325-5335)
Rule H. Res. 949 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 949 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6, H.R. 5797 and H.R. 6082. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 6 and H.R.5797 under structured rules; and provides for consideration of H.R. 6082 under a closed rule. Additionally, the rule directs the Clerk to, in the engrossment of H.R. 6, add the text of H.R. 2851, H.R. 5735, and H.R. 5797 as passed by the House as a new matter at the end of H.R. 6.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Apr 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.6082 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.6082 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.6082 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.6082 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.