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DDAP

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The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is hosting its monthly ASAM technical assistance webinar at 10:00 am on Monday, March 4. The topic is “Individualizing Services and Group Development” and will include a discussion on documentation with ASAM’s Golden Thread, transitioning to clinically driven treatment, and strategies for group development. You can email DDAP’s ASAM Transition team to learn more. ASAM technical assistance webinars are held every first Monday of the month at 10:00 am via Microsoft Teams.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has issued Information Bulletin 01-2024, reminding single county authorities (SCA) and residential treatment providers about obligations regarding individuals on high doses of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). It emphasizes adherence to Part 4.04 of the Case Management and Clinical Services Manual and relevant licensure standards. It states that SCAs must ensure providers do not exclude individuals using MOUD and that treatment is individualized without restrictions. Providers may lose funds for restricting admission based on medication use. For additional questions, treatment providers can contact the Bureau of Program Licensure, and SCAs can contact the Treatment Division.

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The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has issued Licensing Alert 03-2024, effective immediately, which introduces updated guidance on complying with Act 66 of 2023, signed into law by Governor Shapiro in December. The guidance specifically outlines all regulatory flexibilities for SUD treatment facilities enabled through the law and describes the process for project directors to notify DDAP of their intent to use any of these flexibilities. In part, Act 66 allows:

  • An increase in staff-to-client ratio for adult nonhospital residential treatment and rehabilitation programs, from 1:8 to 1:12;
  • Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) and Physician Assistants (PA) to serve as counselors;
  • Individuals lacking previous clinical experience to still qualify as counselors if they possess a bachelor’s or associate degree in relevant fields or hold a current Registered Nurse license; and
  • Facilities to hire up to three counselor assistants for each staff person meeting clinical supervisor or counselor qualifications.

Additionally, the alert underscores the importance of continued compliance with other regulations, such as clinical supervisor ratio requirements, counselor assistant supervision, and evaluation requirements. For additional questions, contact the Bureau of Program Licensure.

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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) has issued Licensing Alert 02-2024, effective immediately, to inform opioid treatment programs (OTP) about the recent final rule issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on February 2, 2024, concerning medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). RCPA issued an alert to its members on February 1 announcing the final rule.

This rule modifies and updates regulations pertaining to OTP accreditation, certification, and standards for the treatment of OUD. The most crucial aspects of SAMHSA’s final rule include the permanent adoption of COVID-19 era flexibilities, allowing patients to receive more take-home doses of methadone, which is proven to enhance treatment retention and reduce illicit opioid use. The update also permits the initiation of methadone and buprenorphine treatment via telehealth through OTPs and removes stringent admission criteria, thereby improving access to care for individuals in need.

DDAP is currently reviewing the final rule, set to take effect on April 2, 2024, with a compliance deadline of October 2, 2024, and plans to issue a follow-up Licensing Alert soon. For further information, contact the Bureau of Program Licensure.

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Secretary Val Arkoosh and leadership from the Department of Human Services (DHS) will host a webinar to discuss the proposed 2024/25 budget for the department. The briefing will take place at 10:00 am on Friday, February 9. If you are unable to attend, the briefing will be recorded and available for viewing afterwards.

Visit here to register for the briefing. DHS encourages individuals to submit questions ahead of the briefing so they can prepare as much information as possible. The Departments will follow up on any questions that they are unable to answer during the webinar.

(If the registration link above does not work, please try copying this link directly into your browser: https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/3049c317-17f6-46ab-8396-1e5f3a370422@418e2841-0128-4dd5-9b6c-47fc5a9a1bde)

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Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs have announced an $18 million funding initiative to assist practitioners in the substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, prevention, case management, and recovery support services workforce. The SUD student loan repayment program aims to address workforce shortages by providing loan repayment opportunities to retain professionals in the field. This initiative, funded by the Opioid Settlement Fund and Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program Fund, supports practitioners, including physicians, nurses, counselors, and case managers. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2024, through the online portal. Practitioners are eligible for up to $75,000 for full-time practice or $37,500 for half-time practice. The program prioritizes those in rural areas with SUD workforce shortages and counties with underserved minority populations. For more information and application details, visit the DDAP Funding Opportunities page. Questions can be sent electronically.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and the Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) have announced a nearly $300,000 grant opportunity for licensed recovery houses. The grants, capped at $50,000 each, aim to facilitate physical upgrades to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Eligible recovery house facilities can apply for health and safety enhancements, covering aspects such as demolition, rehabilitation, and environmental remediation. The application period will be open until funds are exhausted. For more details, including the application form, a comprehensive understanding of the competitive grant process, and federal application requirements, visit DDAP’s website.

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Image by Tom und Nicki Löschner from Pixabay

The Pennsylvania Compulsive and Problem Gambling Annual Report for 2022/23 outlines the impact of programs funded by the Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment Fund. According to the report, around $8.3 million was transferred to support crisis counseling, awareness programs, and treatment services. The funds were distributed among Single County Authorities to conduct needs assessments and prevention programs. Additionally, the gambling treatment providers received direct support from the funds. Outpatient treatment providers spent $469,145 in 2022/23, focusing on monitoring demographics such as age, race, ethnicity, income, and preferred gambling methods. The Pennsylvania Gambling Helpline received 2,834 calls, indicating an increase from the previous year, with financial hardship being a common issue.

For a comprehensive overview, including detailed statistics on treatment admissions, demographics, and gambling methods, refer to the full report.

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Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) will launch a new Training Management System (TMS) in January 2024. To facilitate the transition, the current TMS and DDAP courses in TrainPA will be frozen at 3:00 pm Thursday, December 7, until the system’s launch on January 4, 2024. DDAP emphasizes the importance of verifying matching email addresses in both systems to mitigate potential record loss during the migration process. Users are strongly encouraged to conclude any ongoing TrainPA trainings and finalize pending course evaluations within the current TMS before the freeze period. For further assistance, users may contact the DDAP Training Section via email.

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