Bill Text: PA HB2549 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Providing for requirements for methadone use by narcotic treatment programs, for reducing methadone diversion, for reducing methadone-related accidents and deaths and for duties of the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs in the Department of Health.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-27 - Referred to HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES [HB2549 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HB2549-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 3828
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2549 Session of2010
INTRODUCED BY DiGIROLAMO, ADOLPH, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, CLYMER, CREIGHTON, FARRY, GINGRICH, HARHAI, HARKINS, KILLION, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MANN, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MIRABITO, MURT, D. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PYLE, QUINN, REICHLEY, ROSS, SABATINA, SAINATO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, VEREB AND WATSON, MAY 27, 2010
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, MAY 27, 2010
AN ACT
Providing for requirements for methadone use by narcotic
treatment programs, for reducing methadone diversion, for
reducing methadone-related accidents and deaths and for
duties of the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs in the
Department of Health.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Methadone
Addiction Prevention and Treatment Act.
Section 2. Legislative findings.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) Methadone is used by some drug and alcohol treatment
programs to treat heroin addiction.
(2) Some people have lost their lives to primary or
secondary drug interactions with methadone.
(3) Prescriptions for methadone have increased by nearly
700% from 1998 through 2006.
(4) Methadone patients have caused motor vehicle
accidents resulting in property damage and loss of life.
(5) According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, in 2005 there were 4,462 methadone-related
deaths, representing an increase of 468% since 1999. By
contrast, all poisoning deaths by all drugs increased by 66%
over the same period.
(6) Methadone is addictive, and most patients develop an
addiction to methadone.
(7) Methadone withdrawal can be more severe than heroin
withdrawal.
(8) There is no comprehensive database of drug-related
deaths in the United States.
(9) Methadone treatment practices must be improved to
protect and prevent the patient and the public from deaths,
injuries and addictions.
Section 3. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Bureau." The Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs in the
Department of Health.
"Department." The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.
"Drug-free drug and alcohol addiction treatment facility." A
drug and alcohol addiction treatment program that is not
licensed as a narcotic treatment program by the Department of
Health.
"Methadone." An opiate-based narcotic that may be used to
treat drug addictions, including heroin.
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"Narcotic treatment program." As defined in 28 Pa. Code §
701.1 (relating to general definitions).
Section 4. Eligibility for methadone treatment.
(a) Treatment.--Prior to the administration of an agent,
narcotic treatment programs shall screen each individual to
determine eligibility for admission. In addition to other
Federal and State requirements, the narcotic treatment program
shall:
(1) Verify that the individual is at least 21 years of
age. An individual 18 to 20 years of age can be approved for
the program using criteria developed by the bureau and with
the approval of the narcotic treatment programs' medical
director.
(2) Determine that the individual has been
physiologically dependent on opiate-based narcotics for at
least one year prior to the admission and has been unable to
stay drug free from opiate-based narcotics after at least two
substantial attempts at appropriate treatment in drug-free
residential or drug-free outpatient treatment programs.
(3) Determine that the individual is currently
physiologically dependent upon opiate-based narcotics.
(4) Determine that other medical considerations, such as
hepatitis, liver or heart disease do not preclude the use of
methadone.
(5) Conduct a review and document all medications in use
by the individual for potential adverse interactions with
methadone.
(b) Intake process.--During the intake process, a narcotic
treatment program shall meet with each patient prior to starting
methadone treatment to provide counseling and to develop a
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treatment and rehabilitation program. The intake process shall
include the following:
(1) Providing information to the patient relating to:
(i) Alternative methods of treatment, risks and
complications of methadone treatment and possible adverse
outcomes.
(ii) Program policies.
(iii) Hours of operation.
(iv) Fee schedule.
(v) Services provided.
(2) Obtaining the following from the patient:
(i) Medical history.
(ii) Drug and alcohol history, including use of
prescription drugs.
(iii) Personal history.
(3) Obtaining consent to treatment.
(4) Conducting a physical examination.
(5) Conducting a psychosocial evaluation.
(c) Preliminary treatment and rehabilitation plan.--The
preliminary treatment and rehabilitation plan shall include a
methadone-to-abstinence schedule. The schedule shall include
dates and goals for the patient to reduce and eliminate
methadone use within two to three years. Exceptions to the
methadone-to-abstinence plan must be approved by the bureau.
(d) Counseling.--Each narcotic treatment program shall
provide a minimum of two hours of counseling a week to patients
using methadone. After three months' compliance with treatment
program rules and goals, including drug-free urine screens, the
amount of counseling shall be adjusted as recommended by a
physician in the best interest of the patient.
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(e) Drug screening tests.--
(1) Narcotic treatment programs shall complete an
initial drug screening analysis for each prospective patient
upon intake and at least once every two weeks after
admission. Each test shall screen for opiates, methadone,
benzodiazepines, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine and
alcohol. When a patient has tested positive for opiates,
benzodiazepines, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine or
alcohol, the patient shall be provided immediately with
additional counseling to address the problem, and the
methadone dosage shall be adjusted as necessary to ensure
patient safety.
(2) A narcotic treatment program may conduct on-site
drug screening. Screens that are positive must be confirmed
through a certified, independent laboratory with the report
maintained in the patient's file.
(f) Operation of vehicle.--A patient using methadone is
prohibited from operating a vehicle during the first two weeks
of receiving methadone unless approved by the narcotic treatment
programs' medical director. If a patient tests positive for
other illegal drugs or alcohol, the patient is prohibited from
operating a vehicle for a minimum of one month unless approved
by the narcotic treatment programs' medical director.
(g) Training of physicians.--A medical director providing
approval for driving or take-home privileges must have
certification in addiction medicine from the American Society of
Addiction Medicine or must have completed training in alcohol
and other drug addictions that has been approved by the Bureau
of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Pennsylvania Medical
Society.
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Section 5. Reducing methadone abuse and diversion.
(a) Plans.--Each narcotic treatment program shall develop
plans to reduce methadone diversion and submit the plans to the
bureau. The plans shall list the specific steps that the program
has taken to reduce methadone abuse.
(b) Review and inspection.--The bureau shall review the
plans and conduct on-site inspections to determine compliance
with the plans.
(c) Best practices.--The bureau shall develop a list of best
practices for methadone treatment and to reduce methadone
diversion. The best practices shall be published on the bureau's
Internet website. The department shall promulgate regulations
that require all treatment programs to implement the best
practices.
(d) Take-home privileges.--
(1) A narcotic treatment program may provide methadone
to a patient for use outside of the drug treatment facility
if consistent with the patient's treatment plan, including,
but not limited to, the methadone-to-abstinence schedule, and
the patient's physician has made a good faith estimate that
the take-home medication:
(i) will improve the patient's treatment for heroin
addiction; and
(ii) will not be diverted or abused.
(2) The physician's good faith estimate shall be written
and maintained in the patient's file.
(3) No patient shall receive take-home methadone within
six months of any positive test for opiates, benzodiazepines,
amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine or alcohol.
(4) No patient who has diverted or abused methadone is
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eligible for take-home privileges. After a minimum of three
months' compliance with treatment program rules and goals,
including drug-free urine screens and with the approval of
the narcotic treatment programs' medical director, take-home
privileges may be reinstated.
Section 6. Drug-free alternatives.
No drug and alcohol addiction treatment program shall be
required by license or contract to provide methadone or
buprenorphine or make them available to patients.
Section 7. Facility operations.
In addition to other Federal, State and narcotic treatment
program laws, regulations or requirements, a narcotic treatment
program shall:
(1) Have the right to discharge patients from treatment
who engage in diversion of methadone or violence or threats
of violence.
(2) Honor patient requests for transfer to another
narcotic treatment program or to other treatment programs
within seven days of request.
(3) Provide appropriate care and planning to protect the
health and safety of patients and the community during
transfers to other treatment programs or administrative
discharges.
(4) Remain open seven days a week to reduce take-home
methadone prescriptions and prevent methadone diversion and
abuse.
Section 8. Penalties.
(a) Fine.--The Division of Drug and Alcohol Program
Licensure, Pennsylvania Department of Health, may assess a fine
of $1,000 for each violation of this act.
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(b) Public notice of violations.--All violations shall be
posted on the department's publicly accessible Internet website.
Section 9. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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