42 CFR Part 2 primarily governs

• A. Confidentiality of information about individuals seeking or receiving treatment for substance use disorders
• B. Record retention for all health records
• C. Access to medical records by employers
• D. Insurance billing for addiction services

Answer: (A)

42 CFR Part 2 is the federal rule that protects the confidentiality of information about people seeking or receiving treatment for substance use disorders. It goes beyond general health privacy by restricting how identifiable treatment records can be disclosed, typically requiring the patient’s written consent and limiting disclosures to specific, narrowly defined circumstances. This strict confidentiality aims to reduce stigma and barriers to seeking treatment, ensuring individuals feel safe pursuing care. It applies to programs that receive federal funds or are regulated as addiction treatment programs and covers records that identify a person as a recipient of substance use disorder services.

The other options don’t capture the main purpose. It isn’t a blanket rule about record retention for all health records, nor about employer access to medical information, and while it interacts with billing disclosures, its primary focus is protecting the privacy of treatment information.