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Tags Posts tagged with "Waiver"

Waiver

With Senate Bill 1019 passed into law as Act 14, the Department of Drug and Alcohol’s (DDAP) regulatory suspensions are also extended. These regulatory suspensions are “related to federal exemptions granted under the federal public health emergency declaration” until “the last day federal exemptions granted under the federal public health emergency declaration are authorized.” In addition to three DDAP regulatory suspensions, one additional regulation from the Department of State, also relevant to the field, is included in the chart below and also remains suspended.

Statute/Regulation Statute/Regulation Purpose

Waiver Benefit/Explanation

28 Pa. Code § 715.16(e)

Prohibits narcotic treatment programs (NTPs — methadone clinics) from permitting a patient to receive more than a 2-week take-home supply of medication In response to COVID-19, SAMHSA is allowing up to 28 days of take-home medications for patients on stable dosages, if the physician deems appropriate.
28 Pa. Code § 715.9(a)(4) Requires NTPs to make a face-to-face determination before admission to treatment, for those clients who will receive buprenorphine treatment. In response to COVID-19, SAMHSA is allowing initial evaluations for a patient who will be treated with buprenorphine to be completed via telehealth.
28 Pa. Code § 715.6(d) Requires NTPs to have narcotic treatment physician services onsite. In response to COVID-19, SAMHSA is allowing initial evaluations for a patient who will be treated with buprenorphine to be completed via telehealth.
49 Pa. Code § 16.92(b)(1)

(Department of State)

Before a patient can be prescribed any controlled substance in Pennsylvania, a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the commonwealth, or otherwise licensed or regulated by the State Board of Medicine, must take an initial medical history and conduct an initial physical examination, unless emergency circumstances justify otherwise.

In response to COVID-19, the Department of State suspended the initial medical history and physical examination requirement specifically for the treatment of opioid-use disorder with buprenorphine.

 

In November 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced that the methadone take-home flexibilities will be extended for one year after the eventual expiration of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. DDAP has submitted its written concurrence with this exemption. SAMHSA has also indicated that they are currently considering mechanisms to make this flexibility permanent. Narcotic treatment programs do not need to do anything additional at this time to continue taking advantage of this flexibility.

Similarly, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also announced last week that they are currently working to make their teleprescribing regulations permanent. DDAP will continue to provide additional information and guidance as it becomes available.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Bureau of Program Licensure at (717) 783-8675 or via email.

ODP Announcement 22-006 is to inform all Waiver Providers and Vendors whose last digit of their Master Provider Index (MPI) number is 3, 4, or 5, as well as new providers who enrolled in the 2020–2021 fiscal year, that they must submit their qualification documentation to their Assigned AE and/or the Office of Developmental Programs’ (ODP) Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations (BSASP). This documentation is due between February 1, 2022 and March 31, 2022

Documentation must include a completed DP 1059 form and/or DP 1088 form, Provider Qualification Documentation Record (providers must use the most recent version found on MyODP), and any other required supporting documentation. For reference to provider qualification, please see Pennsylvania Bulletin Volume 49, Number 40, Subsections 6100.83-84, which contains provider qualification citation specifications.

Inquiries about this communication regarding the ID/A qualification process should be sent to the ODP Provider Qualification inbox. Inquiries about this communication regarding the AAW qualification process should be sent to the AAW Provider Qualification inbox.

ODP Announcement 21-087 is to inform all interested parties of CMS’ approval of amendments to the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed Support (P/FDS) waivers (hereafter referred to as the Intellectual Disability and Autism [ID/A] waivers). The ID/A waiver amendments became effective on November 22, 2021, and are available on the Department of Human Services’ website.

The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) developed a Record of Change document that contains all of the substantive changes in the approved ID/A amendments. Each full waiver application approved by CMS and the Record of Change document are available as follows:

ODP is also holding a webinar to provide an overview of all substantive changes in the approved ID/A amendments. The date, time, and link for registration to attend the webinar are as follows:

ODP is developing two additional communications regarding the provision of remote supports in residential settings and non-residential settings, including information about webinars that will be held regarding the provision of remote supports.

CONTACT: Questions about this communication should be directed to the appropriate Office of Developmental Programs Regional Office.