Information sharing is necessary for effectively coordinating services and treatment across resources. All data sharing protocols should be put in writing and follow relevant state and federal laws. Sharing data facilitates more effective individual treatment responses and can help leverage scarce resources, particularly for high system utilizers. Stakeholders should consider HIPAA, 42CFR part 2, FERPA and state laws related to sharing behavioral health information.
When data is shared between different agencies or partners, best practices recommend development of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) between partners to solidify working partnerships and data agreements.
Learn More About Information Sharing
- The Council of State Governments Justice Center, Information Sharing in the Criminal Justice–Mental Health Context: Working with HIPAA and Other Privacy Laws
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HIPAA FAQs: Judicial and Administrative Proceedings
- SAMHSA, Fact Sheets regarding the Substance Abuse Confidentiality Regulations (42 CFR Part 2)
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education, Joint Guidance on the Application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) And the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) To Student Health Records