Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1)
Application Process. No provider may provide treatment required pursuant to O.C.G.A. 40-5-63.1 or O.C.G.A. 40-6-391without first having obtained approval by the department, having been placed by the department on the registry of treatment providers and, as applicable, being on active registry status. All applications shall be submitted on forms prepared by the department, following a procedure outlined by the department. In addition, the department may require applications or related documents to be submitted electronically, through a secure website, following procedures specified by the department. The application shall include all information, fees, and documents designated by the department and shall be truthful, accurate and complete. The department may require any applicant for treatment provider to submit additional information or verification that is reasonably related to making an approval determination.
(2)
Criteria for Approval.
(a) In order to be placed on the registry of treatment providers, a treatment provider must provide a program description specifying which ASAM levels of care will be offered and demonstrating the capability to offer the specified level(s) of care;
(b) Treatment providers offering services at ASAM level 11.1 or higher must be licensed by the department's Office of Regulatory Services as a drug abuse treatment program;
(c) Treatment providers who will only offer ASAM level I services must provide direct treatment services or clinical supervision of treatment services. An ASAM level I treatment provider must have one of the following combinations of professional licensure, credentials and experience:
1. Certification as an addiction medicine specialist by the American Society of Addiction Medicine;
2. Certification in addiction psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology;
3. Certification by the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association as a Certified Addiction Counselor II;
4. Certification by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Association;
5. Certification by the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium;
6. Certificate of Proficiency in the Treatment of Alcohol and Other Psychoactive Use Disorders' from the American Psychological Association's College of Professional Psychology; or
7. Licensure under O.C.Q.A. Title 43 as a physician, psychologist, professional counselor, social worker,, marriage and family therapist, advanced practice nurse, registered nurse with bachelor's degree in nursing, or certification as an employee assistance -professional, and
(i) documentation of at least 3,000 hours in the five-year period prior to application, of clinical experience in the', treatment of persons who are addicted to alcohol or other drugs, and
(ii) documentation of the completion of at least 20 hours of continuing education in the field of substance abuse, with not more than five of these hours consisting of in-service training, in the two-year period prior to application.
(3)
Training and Continuing Education. Each treatment provider will attend training and orientation sponsored by the department within six months prior to being placed on the registry. Each treatment provider will ensure that all persons whom the treatment provider supervises in providing direct services will complete, every two years, a minimum of 20 contact hours of continuing education in the field of substance abuse which has been approved by the department. The department will not approve more than five hours of in-service training in each two-year period.
(4)
Ongoing Qualifications.
(a) Each treatment provider who is approved and placed on the registry of treatment - providers shall continue to meet at least the required criteria for approval and meet continuing education requirements for placement on the registry, and upon request shall - provide documentation showing evidence thereof. Upon renewal or reissuance-of any applicable licensure, certification or credentialing, or upon request by the department, the treatment provider shall provide a copy of the renewed or reissued license, certification or credentialing to the department.
(b) Each treatment provider shall notify the department within 30, days of the occurrence if the provider's license, certification or credentialing is revoked, suspended,; terminated, or otherwise lost. The treatment provider may not provide treatment after the effective date of the revocation, suspension, termination, or other loss of licensure, certification or credentialing.
(c) If any treatment provider fails to submit documentation as required, or fails to maintain the required licensure, certification or credentialing, the treatment provider's approval as a treatment provider may be revoked, and the treatment provider may be removed from the Registry.
(5)
Active Registry Status. The department may provide' for the registry to be available for viewing on the Internet. Once placed on the registry of treatment providers, an individual w ill continue to be listed in active registry status unless one of the following events occurs, which event shall constitute a basis for revocation:
(a) The treatment provider fails to submit any treatment enrollment, transfer and completion reports to the department for two consecutive quarters;
(b) The treatment provider fails to maintain client files as required by these regulations or otherwise fails to comply with the requirements of these regulations or of the department;
(c) The treatment provider notifies: the department that the treatment provider no longer wishes to be listed on the registry;
(d) The treatment provider ceases to meet the qualifications listed above, including but not limited to failing to complete required continuing education and training, failing to ensure the training and adequate supervision of persons providing direct services, or the loss of any licensure, certification or credentialing upon which approval was based; or
(e) The treatment provider provides false or misleading information to the department.
(6)
Reinstatement. If as treatment provider is removed from active registry status in accordance with the above, the treatment provider's approval is revoked and the treatment provider must submit a new application in order to return to active registry status, including an application fee, the amount of which shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The department may also require the treatment provider to comply satisfactorily with a corrective action plan to correct any deficiencies under these rules or other requirements of the Department.
O.C.G.A. Sec. 37-7-2.
