[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28043-28044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4498]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Notice of Availability of Draft Guideline; Comment Request

AGENCY: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Department of Health 
and Human Services.

ACTION: Availability of Guideline--Opportunity for Comment.

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SUMMARY: The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is seeking public 
comments on the revised draft Guidelines for the Accreditation of 
Opioid Treatment Programs. These guidelines elaborate upon the Federal 
opioid treatment standards set forth under 42 CFR part 8.

DATES: Comments should be submitted by July 14, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The draft guideline may be obtained directly from http://www.dpt.samhsa.gov, or by contacting the Division of Pharmacologic 
Therapy with the information provided below. Comments should be 
submitted to the Division of Pharmacologic Therapy, Center for 
Substance Abuse Treatment, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 2-1080, Rockville, 
MD, 20857; Attention: DPT Federal Register Representative. Comments may 
also be faxed to 240-276-2710 or e-mailed to [email protected]. Received comments may be seen in the office 
above between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Crowley, Center for Substance 
Abuse Treatment (CSAT), Division of Pharmacologic Therapy, 1 Choke 
Cherry Road, Room 2-1080, Rockville, MD 20857, (240-276-2704, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Federal Regulations codified under 42 CFR part 8 set forth 
requirements for opioid treatment programs (``OTPs''), also known as 
methadone treatment programs. The regulations, which were the subject 
of a Final Rule published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2001, 
(``Final Rule'' 66 FR 4075-4102, January 17, 2001) include standards 
for opioid treatment. OTPs are required to provide treatment in 
accordance with these standards as a basis for CSAT certification. 
These standards address patient admission requirements,

[[Page 28044]]

medical and counseling services, drug testing, and other requirements.
    The final rule also established an accreditation requirement. Each 
OTP is required to obtain and maintain accreditation from an 
accreditation organization approved by SAMHSA under 42 CFR part 8. 
Accreditation organizations that provide OTP accreditation under the 
final rule are required to apply for and obtain SAMHSA approval. Under 
42 CFR 8.3(a)(3), each accreditation organization must develop a set of 
accreditation elements or standards together with a detailed discussion 
of how these elements will assure that each OTP surveyed by the 
accreditation organization is meeting each for the Federal opioid 
treatment standards.
    The Guidelines for the Accreditation of Opioid Treatment Programs, 
are intended to guide accreditation organizations in preparing their 
accreditation standards. In addition, the Guidelines provide useful 
elaborations on the regulatory standards set forth under 42 CFR part 8. 
As such, the updated guidelines will assist both accreditation 
organizations and OTPs in complying with regulatory requirements.
    Prepared initially in 1997, Guidelines for the Accreditation of 
Opioid Treatment Programs are being updated now to reflect new 
information and research in the field of opioid assisted treatment. 
CSAT convened an expert panel to provide the draft guideline now being 
circulated for comment. CSAT is soliciting comments on the guideline 
from the public, and expects comments from OTPs, accreditation 
organizations, patients, the medical community and other interested 
parties.
    CSAT will consider all comments submitted by July 16, 2006; in 
order to publish a revised guideline; however, CSAT will continuously 
accept and consider comments for future consideration.

    Dated: May 8, 2006.
Anna Marsh,
Director of OPS, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 06-4498 Filed 5-12-06; 8:45 am]
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