Pennsylvania Eases Rules for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Providers With New Virtual-Only License: RCPA SUD Treatment Services Policy Director Jason Snyder Quoted
Jason Snyder
DDAP Issues Licensing Alert to Detail Process for Outpatient Telehealth-Only Licensure
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) today issued Licensing Alert 08-2024 to detail the steps for SUD treatment providers to obtain a telehealth-only license from the department.
These DDAP-licensed telehealth-only providers may provide intake, evaluation, and referral, as well as outpatient or partial hospitalization services, via telehealth only without a physical plant location in Pennsylvania to individuals who are located in the commonwealth as long as the provider complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Any DDAP-licensed provider can also provide some telehealth services as an option to in-person treatment. However, only a telehealth-only provider may provide 100 percent of its treatment services via telehealth.
DDAP will not require the provider to maintain a physical location in Pennsylvania. DDAP also will grant all telehealth-only providers an exception to § 709.11(b) regarding the requirement to conduct an onsite inspection for the renewal of a license as part of licensure.
Licensing Alert 08-2024 applies only to DDAP licensure. Providers that are considering applying for a telehealth-only license should consult their public and private insurance payers to confirm whether they will meet conditions for network enrollment and payment, as DDAP cannot guarantee a DDAP-licensed telehealth-only provider funding or a contract.
The full licensing alert provides additional information, including how to apply for the license.
Contact RCPA SUD Treatment Services Policy Director Jason Snyder with any questions.
DDAP Invests $2.5 Million to Create a Bridge to Recovery Housing
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced the availability of $2.5 million in grant funding for community-based organizations and public health programs to help improve Pennsylvanians’ access to existing substance use disorder (SUD) recovery houses that are licensed through DDAP.
Funding for these grants is provided from opioid settlement funding that was appropriated to DDAP by the General Assembly, which was the result of a multistate investigation of opioid manufacturers and distributors spearheaded by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro that led to settlement agreements worth billions of dollars. That money is to be invested in opioid remediation programs and initiatives.
Read the full press release here.
Please reach out to RCPA SUD Policy Director Jason Snyder with any questions.
DDAP Invests Nearly $20 Million for Drop-in Centers
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced an investment of nearly $20 million for 12 Pennsylvania organizations to expand drop-in center services for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) across Pennsylvania. Funding for these grants is provided, in part, from the portion of opioid settlement funding that was appropriated to DDAP by the General Assembly for the 2023/24 fiscal year.
All awardees have at least two years of experience providing SUD prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery support services, drop-in center services, and/or relevant services, and have the capacity to provide drop-in center services to individuals with opioid use disorder and other SUDs. In addition, these grants are also designed to support the delivery of services to address stimulant misuse and use disorders, including cocaine and methamphetamines. DDAP is awarding 12 grants of up to $1,875,000 each for a 29-month period from February 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.
Read the full press release here.
Please reach out to RCPA SUD Policy Director Jason Snyder with any questions.
DDAP Seeks Input on Training Needs for Family Members, General Public
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has published a survey titled “Family Members Training Needs” to hear about the training and educational needs of family members or significant others whose loved one may be struggling with drug or alcohol use, receiving substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, or in recovery. DDAP is also seeking to learn more about how to improve the navigation of the SUD services system. The survey should be completed no later than January 6, 2025.
DDAP encourages both those who have someone close to them struggling with SUD and those who do not have someone close to them but who are interested in learning more about educational opportunities to complete the survey.
DDAP Announces Year Four Findings of Stigma Reduction Campaign “Life Unites Us”
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), in partnership with Penn State Harrisburg’s Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research, Shatterproof, and PGP, also known as The Public Good Projects, announced findings from the fourth year of the Life Unites Us campaign, an evidence-based approach to reducing the stigma of substance use disorder (SUD).
During its fourth year, the campaign served over nine million impressions to almost two million Pennsylvanians with information and messaging to encourage stigma reduction.Life Unites Us is a people-forward, research-driven campaign that DDAP launched in September 2020. The campaign utilizes social media to spread stories of individuals in recovery, their family members, and allies who support those with SUD. Additionally, the campaign gives local organizations an opportunity to learn through webinars, fosters community partnerships to promote recovery-focused support at the local level, and maintains an interactive data dashboard detailing the campaign’s progress.
Read the complete press release here.
For more information, contact RCPA Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services Director Jason Snyder.
DDAP to Begin Licensing Telehealth-Only SUD Treatment Providers
Despite opposition and concerns from substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers, single county authorities, primary contractors, and behavioral health managed care organizations, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) will begin licensing telehealth-only SUD treatment providers.
DDAP will issue a licensing alert on Wednesday, December 4, detailing the new licensure category.
Organizations newly licensed under this tele-only category will be able to provide intake, evaluation, and referral services, as well as outpatient treatment, including partial hospitalization services, via telehealth only, without a physical plant location in Pennsylvania.
DDAP’s intention in licensing telehealth-only providers is to hold them to the same standards as facility-based providers as a way to ensure equity and maintain operational standards. DDAP will continue to monitor complaints and unusual incidents for all licensed providers, as well as the number of telehealth-only license applications that are made over time, looking for any trends that could require additional action.
RCPA and its provider members opposed creation of the new license, citing patient safety and quality concerns, as well as potential erosion of the community-based provider system. RCPA hosted DDAP for a discussion about its concerns, met one-on-one with the department, and provided written feedback to DDAP. In addition, RCPA met with the governor’s Policy Office, to discuss provider concerns.
DDAP will attend RCPA’s next SUD Committee meeting at 11:00 am on Tuesday, December 10. RCPA has asked DDAP to discuss the new license category. RCPA members wanting to attend this meeting can register here.
DDAP Issues Bulletin in Response to Federal Extension of Telemedicine Flexibilities
As RCPA previously communicated, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has extended the temporary COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities through December 31, 2025. These flexibilities enable prescribing of controlled medications via telemedicine. As such, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ (DDAP) suspension of 28 Pa. Code § 715.9(a)(4), which allows an initial evaluation for a person who will be treated by an opioid treatment program (OTP) with buprenorphine to be completed via telehealth, is also extended.
DDAP’s complete Information Bulletin 03-2024 is available here.
New Database Tracks How 10s of Millions in Opioid Settlement Dollars Are Being Spent in Pennsylvania
RCPA Submits Comments to IRRC in Support of OTP-Related Regulation Change
On behalf of its opioid treatment program (OTP) provider members, RCPA submitted comments to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) in support of a final-omitted regulation that would allow an initial physical examination required for prescribing, administering, and dispensing controlled substances through an OTP to be conducted via telehealth under certain circumstances under Pa. 49 Code § 16.92.
This final-omitted regulation would enable the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to grant a statewide exception to 28 Pa. Code § 715.9(a)(4), which today requires Pennsylvania OTPs (called narcotic treatment programs in DDAP regulations) to conduct a face-to-face determination of whether an individual is currently physiologically dependent on an opioid.
IRRC will consider the final-omitted regulation at a public meeting on December 5.
In its comments, RCPA wrote:
“Enabling OTPs to conduct the initial examination required as part of induction into methadone or buprenorphine treatment through telehealth significantly improves and expedites patient access to the gold standard treatment for OUD without sacrificing quality or safety. In a treatment environment where finding qualified physicians, physician assistants and certified registered nurse practitioners is challenging, telehealth bridges a significant gap. Physicians would no longer need to be physically on site at the OTP where treatment is to take place to examine a patient as part of the induction process. Rather, from anywhere in the commonwealth, a physician can examine more patients, who can then begin treatment with medication faster at a facility near their home. In fact, with this final-omitted regulation, OTPs will have the ability to accommodate same-day or walk-in admissions instead of scheduling intake appointments days later.”
The final-omitted regulation, submitted by the Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, State Board of Medicine, along with comments in support from the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and RCPA, can be viewed on the IRRC website.
