Admissions to Opioid Treatment Programs

Admissions to Opioid Treatment Programs A. The OTP must have written policies and procedures to describe the total process utilized for admission to the service and must at a minimum include: 1. A face-to-face with each person requesting treatment services. 2. Documentation and identification of the person’s immediate/urgent need(s). 3. Admission criteria must include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) Current diagnosis of opioid dependence in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Current Edition). (b) Person is at least 18 years old, as evidenced by: (1) Driver’s license; or (2) Birth certificate. (c) Person meets the federal requirements, including exceptions, regarding determination that the person is currently addicted to opioids. (d) Person is not currently enrolled in another OTP. (e) Person has signed a statement to evidence their understanding of the risks and side effects of available treatments. (f) Person has signed a statement to evidence their understanding of the options concerning all treatment procedures in Opioid Replacement Management. (g) Person has signed a statement evidencing that admission is voluntary. (h) Person has been informed of and received a copy of rights of people receiving services, including confidentiality (a signed copy must be maintained in the person’s record) as outlined in Chapter 14. (i) Person has been informed of and received a copy of service rules (signed documentation of receipt of service rules must be maintained in the person’s record). (j) Person has received counseling, testing, and education regarding HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, TB, and sexually transmitted diseases (documentation must be maintained in the person’s record). (k) Person must have signed documentation that they understand the fee schedule and tapering process due to inability to pay for services. 4. Criteria for waiting list (a plan must be documented). 5. Any specific conditions/situations that would exclude a person from being eligible for admission. Provisions for and documentation of recommendations for alternate services must be included. B. Each person must be provided an orientation prior to administration of any medication. The orientation must be documented by a signed statement that is maintained in the person’s record which proves the person acknowledges receipt of a service handbook. The service handbook must include, but is not limited to the following: 1. Signs and symptoms of overdose, and conditions for seeking emergency assistance; 2. Description of the medications to be administered by the service, including potential risks, benefits, side effects, and drug interactions; 3. The nature of addictive disorders; 4. The goals and benefits of medication-assisted treatment and the process of recovery; 5. Voluntary and involuntary discharge procedures; 6. Toxicology urine drug screen (UDS) testing procedures; 7. Medication dispensing procedures; 8. Hours of operations; 9. Medication fee schedule; and 10. Counseling services offered during treatment. C. Each person must be reviewed prior to admission and annually thereafter from the date of admission on the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) in Mississippi and nearby states for which access is available to assess for appropriateness of Opioid Treatment Services. No person is eligible for admission or continued services/treatment whose review indicates the potential for diversion. Each PDMP access shall confirm the person is not seeking prescription medication from multiple sources. The service shall access the PDMP: 1. Upon admission; 2. Before initial administration of methadone or other treatment in an OTP; 3. Prior to requesting any take-home dosing exceptions and shall submit the resulting report to the State Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA) with the exception request; 4. After any positive drug test for prescription medication; 5. Every six (6) months to determine if controlled substances other than methadone are being prescribed for the person. The person’s record shall include documentation of the results of the PDMP database check and the date upon which it occurred; and 6. In accordance with any other applicable requirements set forth by state or federal laws, regulations, or licensing authorities. D. No service shall provide any form of consideration, including, but not limited to, free or discounted services or medication, for referral of potential people to the service.