Virginia Law

A. Clinically managed low intensity residential services (ASAM Level 3.1). The agency-based residential group home services (ASAM Level 3.1) shall be licensed by DBHDS as a mental health and substance abuse group home service for adults or children or licensed by DBHDS as a supervised living residence for adults and contracted by DMAS or its contractor or an MCO. Clinically directed program activities constituting at least five hours per week of professionally directed treatment shall be designed to stabilize and maintain substance use disorder symptoms and to develop and apply recovery skills. Activities shall include relapse prevention, interpersonal choice exploration, and development of social networks in support of recovery. This service shall not include settings where clinical treatment services are not provided. ASAM Level 3.1 clinically managed low intensity residential service providers shall meet the service components and staff requirements of this section.

B. Clinically managed low intensity residential services (ASAM Level 3.1) service components.

1. Physician consultation and emergency services, which shall be available 24 hours a day and seven days per week.

2. Arrangements for medically necessary procedures including laboratory and toxicology tests that are appropriate to the severity and urgency of an individual's condition.

3. Arrangements for pharmacotherapy for psychiatric needs.

4. Medication assisted treatment that is provided onsite or through referral.

5. Arrangements for higher and lower levels of care and other services.

C. The following services shall be provided as directed by the ISP:

1. Clinically-directed treatment to facilitate recovery skills, relapse prevention, and emotional coping strategies. Services shall promote personal responsibility and reintegration of the individual into the network systems of work, education, and family life;

2. Addiction pharmacotherapy and drug screening;

3. Motivational enhancement and engagement strategies;

4. Substance use disorder counseling and clinical monitoring;

5. Regular monitoring of the individual's medication adherence;

6. Recovery support services;

7. Services for the individual's family and significant others, as appropriate to advance the individual's treatment goals and objectives identified in the ISP; and

8. Education on benefits of medication assisted treatment and referral to treatment as necessary.

D. Clinically managed low intensity residential services (ASAM Level 3.1) staff requirements.

1. Staff shall provide awake 24-hour onsite supervision. The provider's staffing plan must be in compliance with DBHDS licensing regulations for staffing plans set forth in 12VAC35-46-870 and 12VAC35-105-590.

2. Clinical staff who are experienced and knowledgeable about the biopsychosocial and psychosocial dimensions and treatment of substance use disorders. Clinical staff shall be able to identify the signs and symptoms of acute psychiatric conditions and decompensation.

3. An addiction-credentialed physician or physician with experience in addiction medicine or a physician extender acting within his scope of practice shall review the residential group home admission if the multidimensional assessment indicates medical concerns or systems in ASAM Dimension 1 or 2, to confirm medical necessity for services and a team of CATPs who shall develop and shall ensure delivery of the ISP. For ASAM Level 3.1, the ISP may be completed by a CSAC or CSAC-supervisee if the CATP signs and dates the ISP within one business day.

4. Coordination with community physicians to review treatment as needed.

5. Appropriately credentialed medical staff shall be available to assess and treat co-occurring biomedical disorders and to monitor the individual's administration of prescribed medications.

E. Clinically managed low intensity residential services (ASAM Level 3.1) co-occurring enhanced programs as required by ASAM.

1. In addition to the ASAM Level 3.1 service components listed in this section, programs for individuals with both unstable substance use and psychiatric disorders shall offer appropriate psychiatric services, including medication evaluation and laboratory services. Such services are provided either onsite, via telemedicine, or closely coordinated with an offsite provider, as appropriate to the severity and urgency of the individual's mental health condition.

2. Certified addiction treatment professionals shall be cross-trained in addiction and mental health to (i) understand the signs and symptoms of mental illness and (ii) understand and be able to explain to the individual the purpose of psychotropic medications and interactions with substance use.

3. The therapies described in this section shall be offered as well as planned clinical activities (either onsite or with an offsite provider) that are designed to stabilize and maintain the individual's mental health program and psychiatric symptoms.

4. Goals of therapy shall apply to both the substance use disorder and any co-occurring mental illness.

5. Medication education and management shall be provided.