The Legal Action Center is the only non-profit law and policy organization in the United States whose sole mission is to fight discrimination against people with histories of addiction, HIV/AIDS, or criminal records, and to advocate for sound public policies in these areas.
Upcoming Events
Minors’ Health Rights – Accessing Confidential Treatment for HIV/AIDS, Substance Use, and Other Sensitive Health Issues
Wednesday, Nov 06, 2019This 3-hour Face to Face training will explain teenagers’ rights to access confidential healthcare in New York State, and the roles of parents, legal guardians, and the foster care system. The training focuses on common questions that arise in youth HIV testing, prevention, and treatment, and also covers substance use disorder treatment, mental healthcare, and sexual and reproductive healthcare for minors.
Parity, Pared Down: Accessing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2019This 3-hour in-person training will offer a brief overview of the federal parity law, provide examples of common parity violations, and articulate the ways in which patients, providers, and advocates can enforce their rights under both federal and New York State parity provisions.
Twitter Feed
“Insurance barriers, including prior authorizations, that delay or deter access to lifesaving, cost-effective and clinically recommended medications are unnecessary and dangerous, and should be eliminated.” YES! @TiffanyLuMD cc: @NYGovCuomo https://t.co/ub17qxTvDn
“We have huge numbers of people in poverty who have arrests who are basically disenfranchised from working & participating in regular activities,” says Emma Goodman, staff lawyer at @LegalAidNYC https://t.co/kH9ytP5OLc via @theappeal NY must enable automatic #expungement ASAP.
We need as many comments as possible to emphasize the dire need to protect the #confidentiality of #substanceusedisorder patient records! Tell @samhsagov to #ProtectPart2 - submit comments by 10/25 5pm deadline! Use LAC's template comments here: https://t.co/ODRjU2Umjg
"#Buprenorphine, Emilie said, was crucial to her recovery." https://t.co/3TojeQNNTu All individuals with #opioidusedisorder throughout the US deserve equitable access to life-saving #addictionmedicine.
“Should be easier. Should be law that if a person stays out of trouble for certain amount of time, it automatically gets sealed. Going through process helps, but it takes so long.” https://t.co/kH9ytP5OLc Visit https://t.co/om2LQhWZsF for LAC resources on #sealing & #expungement.
News and Highlights
Legal Action Center Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Representative Elijah Cummings
All of us at the Legal Action Center mourn the loss of Representative Elijah Cummings, a relentless champion for justice and dignity. His courage of conviction was unwavering, and his leadership served as a moral compass in the Congress and in the community.
Trump Administration Proposing to Weaken Current Privacy Protections for SUD Patient Information through Second Rulemaking
SAMHSA is proposing to significantly weaken patient privacy protections in the federal confidentiality regulations for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment records, 42 CFR Part 2. It is extremely important that the Trump Administration hears from all stakeholders about how damaging these changes would be for people in recovery and those in, or seeking, SUD treatment.
NY’s New Marijuana “Decriminalization” & Expungement Law Goes into Effect
For the first time ever, New York State has begun automatic expungement of certain marijuana convictions. Legal Action Center, which has long been advocating for automatic records clearance, created a fact sheet on the new decriminalization and expungement law along with the Legal Aid Society and Community Service Society.
Advocates and Health Care Providers Voice Concern about Trump Administration’s Effort to Weaken Confidentiality and Redisclosure of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Records
For the third time in three years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“SAMHSA”) has proposed changes to federal substance use disorder confidentiality rules. LAC and others voice concern that the proposed new rules will weaken the protections against unauthorized disclosures of a patient’s substance use disorder (“SUD”) treatment records, giving the patient less say over where their personal health information is shared.