August saw several regulatory moves by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA. Here are three which affect opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in particular:
On 8/14, SAMHSA issued its proposed rule regarding Medicare coverage for medical-assisted treatment (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone), which will take effect in January. Only OTPs are allowed to dispense methadone for opioid use disorder. No additional regulations are required for Medicare patients going to OTPs, because, SAMHSA said, the OTP regulations alone are sufficient, they are so rigorous.
“[W]e believe the existing SAMHSA certification and accreditation requirements are both appropriate and sufficient to ensure the health and safety of individuals being furnished services by OTPs, as well as the effective and efficient furnishing of such services. We also believe that creating additional conditions at this time for participation in Medicare by OTPs could create unnecessary regulatory duplication and could be potentially burdensome for OTPs. Therefore, CMS is not proposing any additional conditions for participation in Medicare by OTPs at this time.”
The proposed rule was published August 14 in the Federal Register and has a comment period ending September 27.
For more information, go to the source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/14/2019-16041/medicare-program-cy-2020-revisions-to-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule-and-other
