The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) provides the following guidance regarding immediate access for initiation of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in a registered office-based medication assisted treatment (OBMAT) program.
Provision of Immediate Access
To provide same day treatment to a patient in a registered OBMAT program, all requirements found in 69CSR12 must be followed and the provider must be enrolled with West Virginia Medicaid. The following components of 69CSR12 are highlighted as steps that must occur prior to starting and providing services:
- Individual must meet criteria for admission as established by OBMAT policies, including initial medical assessment based on accepted medical and biopsychosocial criteria.
- Individual must receive a verbal program orientation within the first 30 days of initial treatment. If a patient will be admitted to the outpatient program, then the orientation shall be given to the patient in writing at the time the decision is made to admit the patient and shall include a formal agreement of informed consent to be signed by the patient.
- Individual must be older than 16 years of age. Any person 16 to 18 years of age, who is unemancipated, must have parental or guardian consent to receive treatment.
- Pregnancy test is required, if appropriate.
Admission is allowed without an initial positive drug screen if the patient is high risk for relapse and meets one of the following criteria:
- Pregnant with a history of substance use disorder
- Is a prisoner or has been released from a correctional facility within six months
- Former program patient who successfully completed treatment but believes that he or she is at risk of imminent relapse
- Is an HIV patient with a history of intravenous drug use
- Has been deemed as high risk by the medical director or treating physician
- Patient must not be receiving treatment at any other OBMAT facility.
Prior to dispensing or prescribing any MOUD medication, the provider must access the Controlled Substance Monitoring Program through the Board of Pharmacy website to ensure the individual is not receiving prescriptions from multiple sources, assess potential drug interactions, and ensure the medication will be used for appropriate diagnosis of a substance use disorder.
Patient must voluntarily be receiving maintenance treatment and informed consent must be signed.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Office of Drug Control Policy: 304-558-0684
