Our Mission
Multiple federal laws and regulations protect the privacy of information for people who receive health services related to mental health and/or substance use. These laws and regulations inform policy and practice related to protecting patient privacy and sharing patient information.
The Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information (also known as the CoE-PHI) is funded by SAMHSA to assist people and organizations in understanding and applying these federal health privacy laws and regulations — on the job, specific to their task or role — and to assist patients and families in knowing what their privacy rights are when seeking or receiving treatment for substance use disorders and mental health conditions.
Approach
Designed to provide assistance and support to state and local public health authorities, healthcare teams, school professionals, patients, and their families, the CoE-PHI provides:
- Expert training provided virtually through national webinars and face-to-face (limited amount annually)
- Individualized Technical Assistance provided through remote virtual calls
- eLearning Modules
- Video-based learning
- Archived webinars
- Resources and tools that can be accessed 24/7 to help you confidently interpret and apply privacy regulations on the job and in practice
- Training resources to assist in training organizational staff
Resources, training, technical assistance, and any other information provided through the CoE-PHI do not constitute legal advice.
Team and Advisors
The CoE-PHI is administered by CAI Global and funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). CoE-PHI is a partnership between CAI Global and principle legal partner the Legal Action Center, as well as the Network for Public Health Law, and other renowned individual subject matter experts.
CAI is a nationally recognized leadership, workforce, and systems-strengthening capacity building provider. CAI helps health care and social service agencies improve the quality of their services, particularly for communities that have been marginalized, by providing training, technical assistance, research, and other capacity-building support.
The Legal Action Center (LAC) uses legal and policy strategies to fight discrimination, build health equity, and restore opportunity for people with arrest and conviction records, substance use disorders, and HIV or AIDS. LAC’s lawyers are national experts on the privacy and anti-discrimination protections for people seeking and receiving substance use disorder treatment, including 42 USC § 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2.
The Network for Public Health Law works with local, tribal, state, and federal public health policy makers, officials, attorneys, and practitioners, as well as community organizations, advocates, and other stakeholders in community health across the country to help build their capacity to improve health and advance health equity through the use of law and policy. The Network provides evidence-based solutions and best practices through technical assistance, as well as information, resources, consultation, and training.
Combined, our team has expertise in federal health privacy laws and regulations, as well as organization and delivery of SUD, mental health, and other healthcare services, school-based health services, consumer and family engagement, workforce development, training, technical assistance, and systems strengthening.
Sally Friedman, JD
LAC Project Lead
Christine Khaikin, JD
Senior Health Privacy Associate
Kelly McCauley, LSCSW
Behavioral Health Lead
Jacqueline Seitz, JD
Health Privacy Lead
Meghan Mead, JD
Legal Subject Matter Expert
Michael Graziano, MPA, CPHQ
Project Director
National Advisory Group
The CoE-PHI has convened a national advisory group, comprised of experts in the field and national associations that represent SUD and mental health program administrators, providers, and the patients and families they serve. The group makes sure that CoE-PHI activities are responsive to the needs of the field. Members act as advisors in the development of CoE-PHI training and technical assistance activities, resources and educational materials and promote broad awareness of CoE-PHI resources throughout their networks.
American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, Inc. (AATOD)
Mark W. Parrino, MPA, President
American Medical Association (AMA)
Matt Reid, MS
American School Health Association (ASHA)
Jeanie Alter, PhD, MCHES, CPS, FASHA
Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Coordinator Office
Laurie Krom, MS, PI/Co-Director
Faces & Voices of Recovery
Keegan Wicks, National Outreach and Advocacy Manager
NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals
Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCACII, CDCIII, SAP, Executive Director
National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD)
Robert Morrison- Executive Director
Melanie Whitter- Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
Aaron J. Walker, MPA, Policy Manager
National Latino Behavioral Health Association William Arroyo, MD
The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Jessica Gonzalez, MSW, Associate Director
The National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Joe Parks, MD, Medical Director
INDIVIDUAL EXPERT ADVISOR
H. Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH
Learn More About SAMHSA’s Technical Assistance and Technology Transfer Centers:
- Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network Coordinating Office
- Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network Coordinating Office
- Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network Coordinating Office
- SMI Adviser
- Opioid Response Network
- Providers Clinical Support System (PCSS) – Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders
- National Family Support TA Center
- Homeless and Housing Resource Center
- National Peer-Run Training and TA Center for Addiction Recovery Peer Support
- Center of Excellence – Behavioral Health Equity – African American
- Center of Excellence – Behavioral Health Equity – LGBTQ
- E4 Center for BH Disparities in Aging
This website is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award with 100% funded by SAMHSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government.