Addiction Treatment Providers Battling Workforce Crisis Within Epidemic, Pandemic – Guest Column by Dale Klatzker, RCPA Member Gaudenzia
Jason Snyder
DDAP and DHS Sued Over ASAM Transition
The Drug & Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania (DASPOP) has sued the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, calling DDAP’s and DHS’s transition to ASAM from the Pennsylvania Client Placement Criteria (PCPC) unlawful and unconstitutional. DASPOP is seeking injunctive relief that prevents DDAP and DHS from enforcing or moving forward with the ASAM alignment and other aspects of the ASAM transition until the formal regulatory review process required by Pennsylvania law has been completed.
Further, the lawsuit asks the court to declare that DHS, as administrator of Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance program, is required to use PCPC in making addiction treatment placement, continued stay, and discharge decisions, and to prohibit DHS from using or requiring the use of ASAM Criteria 3rd Edition.
DDAP Collecting National Recovery Month Events
September is National Recovery Month. The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is gathering a list of statewide events to promote on its 2021 National Recovery Month web page. If you would like your evens to be listed, please email the DDAP Press Office.
DDAP Issues Bulletin on Updated SAMHSA Term and Condition for Marijuana
The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has issued an Information Bulletin providing updates on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) term and condition for marijuana.
DDAP Updates On-Demand Training Modules
Due to reported issues with TrainPA, DDAP has made changes to the following on-demand modules:
- Drug and Alcohol Confidentiality
- Case Management Overview
Because of these changes, users who registered for the previous versions will need to withdraw from the course(s) and register for the new version. When searching for the modules, only the new versions will be visible. Contact the DDAP Training Section with questions.
Big 3 U.S. Drug Distributors, J&J Reach Landmark $26 Bln Opioid Settlement
Webinar to Provide Overview of DDAP’s Current Priorities, Initiatives, Strategic Goals
Life Unites Us, a partnership among the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), the Douglas W. Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research at Penn State Harrisburg, and the non-profits Shatterproof and The Public Good Projects, is presenting a webinar at 12:00pm Tuesday, July 27, 2021, that will examine DDAP’s history, structure, and strategic goals. In addition, DDAP’s current priorities and initiatives will be discussed. Attendees will also learn how to access trainings, grant opportunities, and technical assistance through the department and other resources, as well as network with members of DDAP’s executive staff. Register for the webinar here.
IRRC Disapproves DDAP’s Recovery House Regulations
In its July 15 public meeting, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) disapproved the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ recovery house regulations for licensure in a 4-1 vote. Earlier in the week, the Office of Attorney General and House and Senate committees approved the regulations.
DDAP intends to revise the regulations to respond to IRRC’s concerns and resubmit the regulatory package as soon as possible. The latest draft of the regulations are available on IRRC’s website.
DDAP Seeks Input to Improve Website
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) seeks input through its DDAP Website Feedback Form to create a more user-friendly experience on its website. The information provided will be used to create a better experience for consumers who are looking for life-saving prevention, treatment, and recovery resources.
SAMHSA Provides Evidence-Based Practices, Service Delivery Models for Telehealth in New Publication
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) new guide reviews ways that telehealth modalities can be used to provide treatment for serious mental illness and substance use disorders among adults, distills the research into recommendations for practice, and provides examples of how these recommendations can be implemented. The guide is available here.
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