Rule 111-8-53-.16 - Drug-Screen TestsThe program shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for random drug-screen tests. These policies and procedures will be for the purposes of assessing the patient abuse of drugs and making decisions about the patient's treatment. These policies and procedures must include the following provisions:
(a) Clinically appropriate drug-screen tests done in accordance with current and accepted standards of medical practice must be conducted initially upon admission and on a random basis bi-weekly for new patients during the first 30 days of treatment and at least monthly thereafter. However, patients on a monthly schedule who fail the drug-screen tests will be returned to a bi-weekly schedule for at least two weeks or longer if clinically indicated;(b) Each sample collected must be screened for opiates, oxycodone, methadone, methadone metabolite; amphetamines, cocaine, benzodiazepines, THC, and other drugs as indicated by individual patient use patterns or that are heavily used in the locale of the patient; and(c) Programs shall develop and enforce policies for the proper collection and handling of drug-screen test samples to ensure that samples collected from patients are properly handled, are actually collected from the patient being tested, and are unadulterated. Such policies may include random direct observation, which shall be conducted professionally, ethically, and in a manner that respects patients' privacy.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-53-.16
O.C.G.A. §§ 26-5-2et seq., 31-2-5, 31-2-7.
Original Rule entitled "Drug-Screen Tests" adopted. F. Sep. 9, 2013; eff. Sept. 29, 2013.Amended: F. Feb. 15, 2018; eff. Mar. 7, 2018.