Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 3, March 20, 2024
A. If the department has assessed a need for
OTP services in a geographic service area(s) in accordance with §12527, the
department will issue an RFA for the specified geographic service area via a
statewide public announcement. The RFA will specify the dates that the
department will accept applications.
1. The
RFA shall specify the following:
a.
geographic service area(s) in need of OTP provider(s);
b. number of OTP providers needed;
c. date that the OTP providers need to be
available to the target population;
d. application submission
requirements;
e. a due date for
applications;
f. process of review
by the FNR committee of any applications timely received, including any
supplemental review process;
g.
notice of selection;
h. information
on appeals processes for applicants that are not granted FNR approval;
and
i. other information or
requirements for the RFP or its process, as determined by the
department.
2. The RFA
shall require the applicant to submit a letter of intent as part of its OTP FNR
application. The letter of intent shall include the following:
a. the name, address, and telephone number of
the FNR applicant;
b. the name of
the FNR applicant representative, an individual authorized to respond to the
department's questions regarding the application, and who also signs the letter
of intent;
c. the proposed location
of the OTP;
d. a brief statement of
the OTP FNR applicant's financial viability and availability of
funds;
e. a brief statement
regarding licensure history as a BHSP, and a written work plan demonstrating a
timeline to achieve accreditation and licensure as an OTP;
f. history of compliance with accreditation,
licensure and/or certification bodies related to the provision of healthcare
services;
g. range of services and
program design;
h. community
integration;
i. availability,
accessibility and appropriateness of the location of the proposed OTP site
(e.g., accessibility to public transportation and healthcare providers,
location in relation to children's schools and playgrounds, local letters of
support from political parties, itemized timeline of action items/dates leading
to service start date); and
j.
methods to achieve community integration through a community relations/targeted
outreach plan.
3. Any OTP
FNR application that fails to provide the required information will not be
considered for FNR approval by the FNR committee.
4. Any proposed owner, director, or manager
of an OTP applying for OTP FNR approval shall be free of any conviction, guilty
plea, or plea of nolo contendere to a felony. If the OTP FNR applicant is an
agency, the owners of that agency shall be free of such felony convictions,
felony guilty pleas, or plea of nolo contendere to a felony.
5. The RFA shall specify that the FNR
applicant designate a representative on the FNR application. This identified
representative shall be the only person to whom the department or FNR committee
will send notification regarding the decision of the OTP FNR application. If
the FNR applicant representative or address changes at any time during the
review process, the FNR applicant shall notify the LDH FNR program in
writing.
B. All timely
and complete OTP FNR applications, received by the department after the
department has issued an RFA for new OTP FNR applicants, will be reviewed by
the FNR committee to determine FNR approval. Only approved OTP FNR applicants
may apply for an OTP license from the department.
C. The FNR committee will review the
applications and independently evaluate and assign points to each of the
following items, considering the quality and adequacy of the response to meet
the need of the project:
1. applicant's
financial viability and availability of funds to support the proposed
OTP;
2. history of BHSP licensure
and a written work plan demonstrating timeline to achieve accreditation and
licensure as an OTP;
3. range of
services/program design; and
4.
community integration plan.
D. Subject to Subsection F below, the highest
scoring OTP FNR applicant shall receive FNR approval.
E. In the case of a tie for the highest
score, the FNR committee will conduct a comparative review of the top scoring
proposals that will include prior compliance history. The FNR committee may
request and review data from HSS on prior compliance history. Subject to
Subsection F of this Section, the FNR committee will make a decision to approve
one of the top scoring applications based on the comparative review of the
proposals.
F. If no proposals are
received that adequately respond to the need, the FNR committee may opt not to
approve an application. In that case, a new RFA will be issued.
G. The OTP FNR applicants will receive
written notifications of approvals and denials of FNR applications via
certified mail or by electronic mail with a request for an acknowledgement and
a read and delivery receipt, or as otherwise specified in the RFA.
H. The OTP FNR applications approved under
these provisions are bound to the description in the application with regard
to:
1. opioid treatment model;
2. services including but not limited to
screening, assessment, counseling, and methadone dosing;
3. communication integration plan;
4. evidence of community
supports/partnerships;
5. outreach
plan;
6. location; and
7. identified opening date to begin
services.
I. The OTP FNR
approval shall expire if the aspects of the application listed in Subsection H
of this Section are altered. However, the OTP FNR approved provider may submit
a request to the FNR committee to request approval to change the proposed
location within the approved geographic service area within 30 days of receipt
of FNR approval.
J. No FNR
committee member shall have a proprietary, financial, professional, or other
personal interest of any nature or kind in any OTP.
AUTHORITY
NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
40:2116 et
seq.
