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S. 2676Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Saving Lives Through Proper Notification of Overdoses Act

Sponsored by Bill CassidySen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Introduced April 16, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 9:16 PM UTC

The Saving Lives Through Proper Notification of Overdoses Act would allow health information to be shared with families and caregivers during emergency situations, such as drug overdoses, when permitted under existing privacy laws. It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue an annual notice to health‑care providers explaining what disclosures are allowed in these emergencies. The bill also lets the Secretary use existing educational materials from the 21st Century Cures Act to support this effort.

Key Provisions

  • The HHS Secretary must annually inform health‑care providers about the specific health‑information disclosures that are allowed during emergencies, including overdoses, under federal privacy regulations.
  • The Secretary may use materials created under section 11004 of the 21st Century Cures Act to help communicate these authorized disclosures.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

April 16, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

April 16, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

April 16, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued April 16, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2676

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 16, 2018

Mr. Cassidy (for himself and Mr. Murphy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To permit certain disclosures of health information during emergencies, including overdoses.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Saving Lives Through Proper Notification of Overdoses Act.

2.

Communication with families during emergencies

(a)

Promoting awareness of authorized disclosures during emergencies

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall annually notify health care providers regarding permitted disclosures during emergencies, including overdoses, of certain health information to families and caregivers under Federal health care privacy laws and regulations.

(b)

Use of material

For the purposes of carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services may use material produced under section 11004 of the 21st Century Cures Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2 note).