Overview
The Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information (CoE-PHI) is launching a Community of Practice (CoP) to support health systems in implementing the changes required by the 2024 Part 2 Final Rule. Whether you’re just getting started, midway through updating key documents and staff training, or perhaps you’ve already made updates and want to double-check your work, this Community of Practice is designed to meet you where you are.
The CoP will use a brief competitive application process to identify and engage four organizations that provide behavioral health services. Selected agencies will assemble a multidisciplinary team who will participate in structured process, with subject matter experts and with their peers, to take steps toward ensuring they have documents and staff training that support compliance with updated federal confidentiality regulations for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment information.
Through four live virtual sessions, each lasting up to 90 minutes, and individualized TA between sessions, teams who participate in the CoP will work toward achieving the following:
Community of Practice Goal: Align organizational consent forms, patient notices and related staff training with updated regulatory requirements through structured peer learning and individualized technical assistance.
Community of Practice Objectives
- Understand the requirements of the 2024 Part 2 Final Rule and their intersection with HIPAA and state laws.
- Apply the revised Part 2 requirements to update TPO consent forms and Patient Notices for Part 2 Programs to support regulatory alignment.
- Identify staff training needs and changes necessary to support implementation of the Final Rule across participating organizations.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply, participants for the Community of Practice must be health care organizations that provide substance use disorder services and meet the criteria listed below:
- Must be able to assemble a team, comprised of 2-4 individuals, with decision-making authority related to privacy, compliance, clinical operations, or health information management.
- Demonstrate readiness to review and update TPO consent forms, patient notices, internal policies, and staff training plans.
- Commit to full participation in all CoP sessions, proactive technical assistance, and required pre- and post-work.
- Be willing to share challenges, lessons learned, and successes with peers to support collective learning.
Benefits of Participation
Through participation in the Community of Practice, healthcare organizations will have the opportunity to:
- Establish a network of peers across the country implementing changes to 42 CFR Part 2.
- Gain free access to both leading legal subject matter experts (SMEs) and Process Management Experts (PMEs) in both virtual sessions and individual TA sessions.
- Update organizational TPO consent forms, Patient Notices, and develop a staff training plan that aligns with updated Part 2 regulations.
Commitments for Participation
Healthcare organizations selected to participate in the Community of Practice commit to:
- Designating a Team Lead* who will serve as the primary point of contact and be present at all CoP sessions and TA meetings.
- Participating in all four live virtual group learning sessions and participating in individualized proactive TA between sessions.
- Completing pre-work and follow-up assignments as applicable.
*While full participation from all team members is strongly encouraged, the Team Lead will be responsible for coordinating participation, ensuring completion of assignments, and communicating updates between the CoP facilitators.
Duration and Time Commitment
The CoP will run from March 2026 through August 2026. Estimated time commitment for participating in CoP virtual sessions with peers and virtual individual TA sessions with SMEs is 8.5 hours. In addition, each team will be working independently, as identified, to update key documents.
Key Community of Practice Activities and Timeline
| Date | Activity | Duration |
| March 4, 2026 | Opportunity made available | — |
| April 3, 2026 | Application deadline | — |
| April 10, 2026 | Sites selected and informed | — |
| April 22, 2026 | CoP orientation – virtual session | 90 minutes |
| June 3, 2026 | Live virtual CoP session 2 | 90 minutes |
| July 15, 2026 | Live virtual CoP session 3 | 90 minutes |
| August 12, 2026 | Closing – live group virtual session 4 | 90 minutes |
| April – August 2026 | Proactive TA scheduled with teams | 30 minutes each |
How We Will Measure Success
Success of the CoE-PHI Community of Practice will be measured through participant engagement, completion of key deliverables, and demonstrated readiness to implement the 42 CFR Part 2 Final Rule.
- Completion of Activities Toward Updating Key Documents
- TPO Consent Forms that align with 42 CFR Part 2 and applicable state laws
- Part 2 Patient Notice that aligns with Part 2
- Updated staff training plan and approach
- Engagement and Participation
- Participation in live virtual CoP sessions
- Participation in scheduled proactive TA sessions
- Evaluation of Healthcare Organization Team’s Experience
- Participant ability to apply what they have learned to their practice
- Whether participants viewed participation as a good use of time
- To what extent participation connected teams with peers and identified resources
Application Process
Applicants should complete and submit a brief application by Friday, April 3, 2026 at 5:00pm ET. The application should take 5-10 minutes to complete.
Individual follow-up conversations (30 minutes each) will be scheduled with applicants to confirm readiness and inform selection for participation.
Contact Us
To request assistance or if you have any questions in completing an application, please reach out to the CoE-PHI Project Manager, Madelynn Bovasso at mbovasso@caiglobal.org.
Disclaimer: Please note that resources, training, technical assistance, and any other information provided through the CoE-PHI do not constitute legal advice.