Nov. 17, 2021
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso (R-Allegheny/Westmoreland) to address administrative burdens impacting the ability of drug and alcohol treatment providers to keep their doors open and serve people in need has passed the House and will now be considered by the Senate.
“By allowing the proper regulatory process, there will be time to review and develop appropriate changes which will improve drug and alcohol facilities’ outcomes,” said Lewis DelRosso. “We want to ensure that regulations are practical and acceptable with appropriate stakeholder input and legislative oversight.”
House Bill 1995 would direct the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) to use the appropriate regulatory process when developing rules that affect drug and alcohol treatment providers in the following instances: new or additional licensure requirements for drug and alcohol facilities; new or additional drug and alcohol staff credentialing requirements; new or additional drug and alcohol counselor staffing ratios; any major implementation of programmatic changes or requirements on drug and alcohol facilities.
The Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA), which has supported and assisted Lewis DelRosso with the making of House Bill 1995, is one of the largest health and human services state trade associations in the country. RCPA represents more than 350 members in Pennsylvania, the majority of which serve more than one million Pennsylvanians annually. RCPA’s members serving those in need of drug and alcohol treatment represent approximately 300 licensed facilities in Pennsylvania.
“We are grateful for Rep. Lewis DelRosso's leadership on this issue and the support of her colleagues in the House of Representatives,” said Jason Snyder, director of the Drug and Alcohol Division at RCPA. “Addiction treatment providers too often operate at the whim of regulators and payers. Many times without the necessary forethought or consideration, administrative, operational and clinical burdens are placed upon a system that is already strained from low reimbursement, a deadly addiction epidemic and a workforce shortage. House Bill 1995 will ensure that DDAP does not continue this pattern of shortsighted and unlawful rulemaking. We now look forward to the Senate's consideration of the bill."
“Substance abuse is a crisis in our local communities,” Lewis DelRosso continued. “We need to get this crisis under control and this legislation will help us do that.”
Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso
33rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Michelle Swab
717-260-6325
mswab@pahousegop.com
RepCarrieLewisDelRosso.com /
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