4731-16-08   Criteria for approval.

(A) Criteria for approval of treatment providers shall include all of  the following:

(1) The philosophy and individualized treatment plan of the program is based on the disease concept.

(2) The chemical dependency model of treatment is based on a twelve-step program such as alcoholics anonymous.

(3) The program provides specialized medical and nursing care during detoxification and appropriate health care professionals during treatment phase.

(4) The evaluation process is an objective, measurable program which uses tools and testing procedures to identify patterns, progression, and stages of recovery at appropriate times in the treatment program. The evaluation shall also emphasize patient self-assessment.

(5) The treatment provider has a network of referral agencies or professionals which meets the needs of the practitioner and significant others in the event that the needs go beyond the program's expertise or available facilities.

(6) The treatment provider has a variety of treatment plan options including inpatient detoxification treatment, inpatient or residential treatment, and outpatient services.

(7) The involvement and treatment of family and significant others is provided.

(8) The cost of the treatment program is covered by most insurance companies or the treatment provider is willing to help work out realistic payment arrangements with the patient.

(9) The provider gives each patient who has been diagnosed as in need of treatment a written list of approved treatment providers from whom indicated inpatient or residential treatment, outpatient treatment, or aftercare can be obtained.

(10) The provider holds certification as an alcoholism program or drug treatment program by the Ohio department of alcohol and drug addiction services, or if located outside Ohio, holds appropriate certification or registration with an agency exercising a similar function in the state in which it is located.

(11) The provider provides advocacy services only at no cost to the patient, or provides such services only after obtaining the signature of the patient acknowledging that he or she has been notified:

(a) That advocacy is not treatment;
(b) That nothing in Chapters 4730, 4731., 4760. or 4762. of the Revised Code or this chapter of the Administrative Code requires a practitioner to obtain aftercare, monitoring or advocacy from the provider of inpatient or extended residential treatment; and­
(c) That the practitioner's refusal to obtain aftercare, monitoring, or advocacy services from the provider of inpatient treatment shall not constitute grounds to report to the board so long as the practitioner demonstrates that the practitioner has contracted with another approved treatment provider to receive any further recommended treatment.

(12) The provider has the capability of making an initial examination to determine what type of treatment an impaired practitioner requires.

(13) The provider requires that each patient who is subject to the jurisdiction of the board complete a minimum of twenty-eight days of inpatient or residential treatment, or a combination thereof, during which the patient shall be prohibited by the terms of the treatment contract from conducting any practice or practice related activities, and after which the provider shall evaluate the patient and determine the necessity for further treatment based solely on clinical grounds.

The exceptions in paragraph (C) of this rule notwithstanding, the provider must personally provide the required inpatient or residential treatment and the assessment or must confirm that another approved treatment provider has provided the inpatient or residential treatment and the assessment before providing any outpatient treatment or aftercare. The inpatient or residential treatment program must have a continuing inpatient or residential patient census sufficient to provide an appropriate treatment milieu for patients receiving treatment in the inpatient or residential setting. This paragraph shall not apply to a patient who has previously completed an inpatient or residential treatment program of at least twenty-eight days if the patient was able to maintain sobriety for at least one year following completion of that inpatient or residential treatment.

(14) If the provider did not hold approval under this chapter prior to January 1, 2001, the provider is accredited by the joint commission on accreditation of health care organizations or by CARF (commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities).

(B) A treatment provider which does not meet the criteria of paragraph (A)(1) or (A)(2) of this rule may nonetheless be considered for approval if it establishes by evidence acceptable to the board that its philosophy, individualized treatment plan, or model of treatment is based on current scientific advances in the field of chemical dependency, and that its success in treatment is comparable or superior to that obtained by treatment providers which meet all the criteria of paragraph (A) of this rule.

(C) A treatment provider that does not meet the criteria of paragraph (A)(3) or (A)(6) of this rule because it does not offer all phases of treatment may nonetheless be considered for approval if it meets both of the following requirements.

(1) If it does not offer detoxification treatment, its policies and procedures are structured to assure that all patients who enter treatment have completed detoxification where detoxification is medically indicated.

(2) If it does not offer one or more required treatment phases (e.g. - inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, or extended residential treatment), it has affiliation agreements or working relationships with other treatment providers to which patients can be referred for any necessary treatment it does not offer.

Effective:  November 30, 2002