ASAM Alignment Pilot Survey Experience to Be Shared in Provider-Only Webinar — July 14
ASAM
DHS Publishes Minimum Fee Schedule for ASAM Levels of Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ (DHS) proposed minimum rates for each ASAM level of care. The rates are effective Jan. 1, 2022. According to DHS, the behavioral health managed care organizations must increase the rate being paid to any provider currently below the minimum. Providers being paid above the minimum will not be reduced to the minimum.
The rates have been posted and can be accessed through DHS’ website under “Behavioral HealthChoices Provider Resources.”
RCPA will share any additional information on the minimum rates as it becomes available. Please contact RCPA Drug and Alcohol Division Director Jason Snyder with any questions.
SUD Confidentiality, Regulatory Review Bills Pass House Human Services Committee
The House Human Services Committee passed three key bills today.
House Bills 1561 and 1563 were passed unanimously out of committee. Both bills will align Pennsylvania’s confidentiality laws with federal laws. HB 1563 will effectively eliminate 4 Pa. Code § 255.5. The full House is scheduled to consider both bills tomorrow. RCPA supports both bills.
In addition, House Bill 1995 passed out of committee on a 15-10 party-line vote in which no Democrats voted for the bill. The bill would require the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to promulgate regulations in instances where DDAP is implementing new or additional licensing requirements for drug and alcohol providers; new or additional drug and alcohol staff credentialing requirements; new or additional drug and alcohol counselor staffing ratios; and new or major programmatic changes and requirements imposed on drug and alcohol facilities. HB 1995 was drafted in response to requirements that go well beyond ASAM Criteria and are being implemented by DDAP as part of its transition to the ASAM Criteria.
RCPA supports the commonwealth’s transition to ASAM Criteria but does not support the overreaching Pennsylvania-specific mandates. RCPA today issued a press release supporting HB 1995.
In a related matter, on Thursday, October 28, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania will hear the Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania’s (DASPOP’s) lawsuit against DDAP and the Department of Human Service in its bid to stop the ASAM transition.
Contact Jason Snyder, Director of RCPA’s Drug and Alcohol Division, with any questions.
Newly Introduced Legislation Would Force PA-Specific Requirements of ASAM Through Regulatory Review
Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso introduced legislation yesterday that would require the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to promulgate regulations in any of the following instances that affect licensed drug and alcohol treatment providers:
- The implementation of new or additional licensing requirements for drug and alcohol facilities;
- The implementation of new or additional drug and alcohol staff credentialing requirements;
- The implementation of new or additional drug and alcohol counselor staffing ratios; and
- The implementation of new or major programmatic changes and requirements imposed on drug and alcohol facilities, including the requirement of adding programs that significantly increase the cost of delivering care and meeting staffing requirements.
The legislation includes any proposed regulatory requirement not currently in effect or any regulatory requirement that the General Assembly has delayed through legislation, meaning the PA-specific requirements of the ASAM transition could not be implemented until approved through a regulatory review process.
The House Human Services Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill Tuesday, October 26. Rep. Frank Farry, Chairman of the Committee, is a co-sponsor of the bill.
If the bill becomes law before January 1, it would bring much needed relief to a treatment system already struggling with major workforce issues and chronic underfunding.
Contact Jason Snyder, Director of RCPA’s Drug and Alcohol Division, with any questions.
DDAP Announces New ASAM Alignment
Buprenorphine Training for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
From ASAM Weekly
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on November 17 that nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) can begin taking the 24 hours of required training to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder. NPs and PAs who complete the required training and seek to prescribe buprenorphine for up to 30 patients will be able to apply to do so beginning in early 2017. HHS is also announcing its intent to initiate rulemaking to allow NPs and PAs who have prescribed at the 30-patient limit for one year to apply for a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for up to 100 patients. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is working quickly with training providers to help them adapt curricula and obtain continuing education credits for this training. Updates on training information and the waiver application will be available on the SAMHSA and American Society of Addiction Medicine websites.
Pennsylvania Drug Treatment Guide to get Another Look
