138
Penalties.
Regulations.
Ante. p. 137.
38 USC 101 e^
seq
PUBLIC LAW 93-282-MAY 14, 1974
[88 STAT.
mining the extent to which any disclosure of all or any part of any record is necessary, shall impose appropriate safeguards against unauthorized disclosure. "(c) Except as authorized by a court order granted under subsection (b)(2)(C) of this section, no record referred to in subsection (a) may be used to initiate or substantiate any criminal charges against a patient or to conduct any investigation of a patient. " (d) The prohibitions of this section continue to apply to records concerning any individual who has been a patient, irrespective of whether or when he ceases to be a patient. "(e) The prohibitions of this section do not apply to any interchange of records— "(1) within the Armed Forces or within those components of the Veterans' Administration furnishing health care to veterans, or " (2) between such components and the Armed Forces. (f) Xny persou who violates any provision of this section or any regulation issued pursuant to this section shall be fined not more than $500 in the case of a first offense, and not more than $5,000 in the case of each subsequent offense. " (g) The Dircctor of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention, after consultation with the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies substantially affected thereby, shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purposes of this section. These regulations may contain such definitions, and may provide for such safeguards and procedures, including procedures and criteria for the issuance and scope of orders under subsection (b)(2) (C), as in the judgment of the Director are necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of this section, to prevent circumvention or evasion thereof, or to facilitate compliance therewith.". (b)(1) Effective on the date specified in section 104 of the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972 (21 U.S.C. 1104), the first sen^^^^,^ ^f section 408(g) of that Act (21 U.S.C. 1175) is amended by striking "Director of the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention" and inserting in lieu thereof "Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare", and the second sentence of such section is amended by striking "Director" and inserting "Secretary" in lieu thereof. (2) Effective on the date specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection, section 408 of such Act is further amended by— (A) striking out "The" and inserting in lieu thereof "Except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, the" in the first sentence of subsection (g) of such section; and (B) adding at the end of such section the following new subsection: " (h) The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, through the Chief Medical Director, shall, to the maximum feasible extent consistent with their responsibilities under title 38, United States Code, prescribe regulations making applicable the regulations established by the Secretary under subsection (g) of this section to records maintained in connection with the provision of hospital care, nursing home care, domiciliary care, and medical services under such title 38 to veterans suffering from drug abuse. In prescribing and implementing regulations pursuant to this subsection, the Administrator shall, from time to time, consult with the Secretary in order to achieve the maximum possible coordination of the regulations, and the implementation thereof, which they each prescribe.".
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