West Virginia Code 16-5Y-11 – State Opioid Treatment Authority
(b) The state opioid treatment authority shall act as the state’s coordinator for the development and monitoring of medication-assisted treatment programs and it shall serve as a liaison with the appropriate federal agencies.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 16-5Y-11
- Medication-assisted treatment: means the use of medications and drug screens, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a holistic approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. See West Virginia Code 16-5Y-2
- Medication-assisted treatment program: means all publicly and privately owned opioid treatment programs and office-based, medication-assisted treatment programs, which prescribe medication-assisted treatment medications and treat substance use disorders, as those terms are defined in this article. See West Virginia Code 16-5Y-2
- Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
- Secretary: means the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources or his or her designee. See West Virginia Code 16-5Y-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
- State opioid treatment authority: means the agency or individual designated by the Governor to exercise the responsibility and authority of the state for governing the treatment of substance use disorders, including, but not limited to, the treatment of opiate addiction with opioid drugs. See West Virginia Code 16-5Y-2
- State oversight agency: means the agency or office of state government identified by the secretary to provide regulatory oversight of medication-assisted treatment programs on behalf of the State of West Virginia. See West Virginia Code 16-5Y-2
(c) The designated state oversight agency is responsible for licensing, monitoring and investigating complaints and grievances regarding medication-assisted treatment programs.
(d) The powers and duties of the state opioid treatment authority include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Facilitate the development and implementation of rules, regulations, standards and best practice guidelines to ensure the quality of services delivered by medication-assisted treatment programs;
(2) Act as a liaison between relevant state and federal agencies;
(3) Review medication-assisted treatment guidelines, rules, regulations and recovery models for individualized treatment plans of care developed by the federal government and other nationally recognized authorities approved by the secretary;
(4) Ensure delivery of technical assistance and informational materials to medication-assisted treatment programs as needed;
(5) Perform both scheduled and unscheduled site visits to medication-assisted treatment programs in cooperation with the identified state oversight agency when necessary and appropriate;
(6) Consult with the federal government regarding approval or disapproval of requests for exceptions to federal regulations, where appropriate;
(7) Review and approve exceptions to federal and state dosage policies and procedures;
(8) Receive and refer patient appeals and grievances to the designated state oversight agency when appropriate; and
(9) Work cooperatively with other relevant state agencies to determine the services needed and the location of a proposed medication-assisted treatment program.