SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #262: Extension of Flexibility for Opioid Treatment Program Take-Home Dosing Update Flexibility sunset extended from June 30, 2022 to Aug. 15, 2022

This bulletin is an update to Special Bulletin COVID-19 #258 posted on July 7, 2022. 

The temporary COVID-19 Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) take-home flexibility was scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2022. NC Medicaid has extended the flexibility based on the exemption from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). With this exemption, NC Medicaid will allow the provision and billing for take-home doses provided by OTPs through Aug. 15, 2022 for:

• Stable patients in an OTP who may receive 28 days of take-home doses of the patient’s medication for opioid use disorder.
• Patients who are less stable but who the OTP believes can safely handle this level of take-home medication, who may receive up to 14 days of take-home medication.

It remains within the OTP provider’s discretion to determine the number of take-home doses within each category of ‘stable’ or ‘less stable.’  The provider is still responsible for determining the amount of take-home doses that an individual can safely manage. The decision-making and any discussions must be documented in the individual’s medical record consistent with 42 C.F.R. § 8.12(i)(3).

Further guidance will be forthcoming regarding the possibility of extending this exemption.

Contact

NC Medicaid Contact Center: 888-245-0179