(A) Each
Licensed or Approved Provider shall adopt and maintain a current policy manual
for patients and residents containing clear and concise statements regarding:
(1) Program description, including:
(a) goals and objectives,
(b) type of services provided, including
aftercare and follow-up;
(c)
qualifications for service delivery staff;
(d) restrictive criteria for receipt of
specific services, if any;
(e)
scheduling restrictions; and
(f)
overall hours of program operation.
(2) Orientation materials provided to
patients and residents at admission, including information about treatment
options, such as medication for addiction treatment, and about family support
services;
(3) Admission
requirements and intake procedures, including a list of the minimum information
that is collected at the intake session;
(4) Fee policies including:
(a) method used to determine fee, including
reduced fees for persons of low income; and
(b) whether or not the program accepts public
or private third-party reimbursement or funding.
(5) Procedures regulating access to patient
and resident records;
(6) Program
rules, including:
(a) all patient and resident
expectations and responsibilities, and process for maintaining safety and
accountability;
(b) restrictions on
use of tobacco and vaping products;
(c) prohibition of sexual harassment and
procedures for addressing and investigating sexual harassment
complaints;
(d) prohibited
interactions between staff and patients or residents, and among patients or
residents;
(e) criteria for
termination;
(f) procedures for
involuntary terminations;
(g)
grievance procedure for the resolution of any other patient or resident related
problem or dispute; and
(h)
visitation and communication policies that encourage and support family visits,
mail, telephone calls, and other forms of communication with family, friends,
or other persons provided that no such policy authorizes the Licensed or
Approved Provider to hold mail or restrict the sending of mail or open patient
or residents' mail; however, such policy may require patients or residents to
open letters or packages in the presence of staff.
(7) Policies, practices, and procedures to
ensure compliance with the ADA;
(8)
Patients' and residents' rights; and
(9) Contact information for the Department's
Bureau of Substance Addiction Services complaint line.
(B) The policy manual and contact information
for the Department's Bureau of Substance Addiction Services complaint line
shall be:
(1) placed visibly in a public area
frequented by all patients or residents or kept at a central location, with a
notice of its availability conspicuously posted in a public area frequented by
all patients or residents; and
(2)
given to each new patient or resident during the admission process or
subsequently upon his or her request, and to any interested party upon
request.
(C) Whenever the
Licensed or Approved Provider makes a change in policy, it shall issue a
written change to the policy manual; the change shall not take effect until
placed in the manual and distributed as provided for in 105 CMR
164.081(B).
(D) When furnishing a
patient or resident with a copy of the policy manual or of any changes to the
policy manual, the Licensed or Approved Provider shall secure a dated and
signed receipt, which shall be placed in the patient or resident
record.
(E) The Licensed or
Approved Provider may charge for the cost of copying and assembling the policy
manual for an interested party or for a second copy to a patient or
resident.
