Section 26. Diverse Populations

A. The program sponsor shall ensure that: (1) opioid treatment is provided regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, or sexual orientation; (2) the program facility is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); (3) opioid treatment is provided with consideration for a patient’s individual needs, cultural background, and values; (4) provider staff members are culturally competent; (5) unbiased language is used in the provider’s print materials, electronic media, and other training or educational materials; (6) HIV testing and education are available to patients either at the provider or through referral; (7) a patient who is HIV-positive and who requests treatment for HIV or AIDS: (a) is offered treatment for HIV or AIDS either at the provider or through referral; and (b) has access to an HIV- or AIDS-related peer group or support group and to social services either at the provider or through referral to a community group; and (8) for patients with a communicable disease such as HIV, AIDS, or hepatitis C, the provider has a procedure for transferring a patient’s opioid treatment to a non-program medical practitioner treating the patient for the communicable disease when it becomes the patient’s primary health concern; (9) an individual who requires administration of opioid treatment medication only for relief of chronic pain is: (a) identified during the physical examination or assessment; (b) not admitted for opioid medication treatment; and (c) referred for medical services; and 8.321.10 NMAC 13 (d) for a patient with a chronic pain disorder who is also physically dependent the OTP makes a good faith effort to coordinate treatment and services with the medical practitioner treating the patient for pain management. B is: (a) identified during the physical examination or assessment; (b) not admitted for opioid medication treatment; and (c) referred for medical services; and 8.321.10 NMAC 13 (d) for a patient with a chronic pain disorder who is also physically dependent the OTP makes a good faith effort to coordinate treatment and services with the medical practitioner treating the patient for pain management. B. A program sponsor shall ensure that a policy and procedure is developed, implemented, and complied with for the treatment of female patients, to include requirements that: (1) pregnancy tests shall be administered and reviewed for all women of childbearing age prior to initiating a opioid treatment withdrawal procedure or medically supervised withdrawal; (2) appropriate staff members be educated in the unique needs of female patients; and (3) each female patient be informed about or referred to an appropriate support group, at the provider or in the community. C. The program sponsor shall ensure that a policy and procedure is developed, implemented, and complied with for the treatment of pregnant patients, to include: (1) a requirement that priority be given to pregnant individuals seeking opioid treatment; (2) a requirement that the reasons for a pregnant individual’s denial of admission to a provider be documented; (3) a requirement that a pregnant patient be offered prenatal care to include fetal assessment either at the program or through referral to a non-program medical practitioner; (4) a requirement that the program communicate with any non-program medical practitioners who are providing prenatal care to a pregnant patient, to coordinate opioid treatment and prenatal care, in accordance with all state and federal laws and regulations for the release of patient records or information; and document all such communications in the patient records; (5) a requirement that a staff member make a good faith effort to educate a pregnant patient who refuses prenatal care services on the importance of prenatal care; (6) a ient, to coordinate opioid treatment and prenatal care, in accordance with all state and federal laws and regulations for the release of patient records or information; and document all such communications in the patient records; (5) a requirement that a staff member make a good faith effort to educate a pregnant patient who refuses prenatal care services on the importance of prenatal care; (6) a requirement that a staff member obtain a written refusal of prenatal care services that are offered either directly by the program or by referral, from a pregnant patient who refuses such services or referral to such services; (7) a requirement that a pregnant patient receiving comprehensive maintenance treatment before pregnancy be maintained at the pre-pregnancy dose of opioid medication, if effective; (8) a requirement that a pregnant patient be monitored by the program medical director to determine if pregnancy-induced changes in the elimination or metabolization of opioid treatment medication may necessitate an increased or split dose; (9) a requirement that withdrawal treatment: (a) is strongly advised against before 14 weeks or after 32 weeks of gestation; (b) the program medical director reviews the case before initiating withdrawal and monitor it until withdrawal is complete; (10) a requirement that a pregnant patient discharged from the program be referred to a non- program medical practitioner and that a staff member document the name, address, and telephone number of the medical practitioner in the patient record. D after 32 weeks of gestation; (b) the program medical director reviews the case before initiating withdrawal and monitor it until withdrawal is complete; (10) a requirement that a pregnant patient discharged from the program be referred to a non- program medical practitioner and that a staff member document the name, address, and telephone number of the medical practitioner in the patient record. D. A program sponsor who is officially notified by a correctional facility that a patient is in their custody shall ensure that the program: (1) makes efforts to obtain approval from the criminal justice system for the continued treatment of the patient by the program while the patient is incarcerated; and (2) if approval is obtained the program continues to treat the patient while the patient is incarcerated , within the limits of the program’s ability to provide such treatment to the incarcerated patient; and (3) if approval is not obtained, the program’s attempts to obtain approval are documented in the patient’s record.