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14 NYCRR Part 819

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14 NYCRR Part 819 Chemical Dependence Residential Services

Jurisdiction: NY Agency: New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)
SUD_RESIDENTIAL (100%)
Plain-English summary

This regulation establishes operating standards for New York State OASAS-certified substance use disorder residential services across three levels: intensive residential rehabilitation (24/7 structured treatment), community residential services (supervised transitional housing with outpatient support), and supportive living services (lower-intensity supervised independent living). Operators must implement written policies covering admission, treatment/recovery planning, staffing, medication for addiction treatment (including MAT/OTP access), infection control, incident reporting, and quality improvement. The rule also requires naloxone availability, cooperative agreements with OTPs for full opioid agonist access, and discharge planning that ensures continuity of medication treatment.

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Regulation text
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AMENDED PART 819 EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2022 
 
PART 819 
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RESIDENTIAL SERVICES 
(Statutory Authority: Mental Hygiene Law Sections 19.07(e), 
19.09(b), 19.40, 32.01, 32.07(a)) 
 
 Sec. 
 819.1 Legal base 
 819.2 Definitions 
 819.3 Standards applicable to all residential service providers 
 819.4 Admission Procedures 
 819.5 Post-admission procedures 
 819.6 Record keeping 
 819.7 Quality improvement and utilization review 
 819.8 General staffing 
 819.9 Additional requirements for intensive residential rehabilitation 
 819.10 Additional requirements for community residential services 
 819.11 Additional requirements for supportive living services 
 819.12 Severability 
 
Section 819.1 Legal base. 
 (a) Section 19.07(e) of the Mental Hygiene Law authorizes the Commissioner to adopt 
standards including necessary rules and regulations pertaining to substance use disorder services. 
 
 (b) Section 19.09(b) of the Mental Hygiene Law authorizes the Commissioner to adopt 
regulations necessary and proper to implement any matter under their jurisdiction. 
 
 (c) Section 19.40 of the Mental Hygiene Law authorizes the Commissioner of the Office to 
issue operating certificates for the provision of substance use disorder services. 
 
 (d) Section 32.01 of the Mental Hygiene Law authorizes the Commissioner of the Office to 
adopt any regulation reasonably necessary to implement and exercise effectively the powers and 
perform the duties conferred by Article 32 of the Mental Hygiene Law. 
 
 (e) Section 32.07(a) of the Mental Hygiene Law authorizes the Commissioner of the Office 
to adopt regulations to effectuate the provisions and purposes of Article 32 of the Mental 
Hygiene Law. 
 
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819.2 Definitions 
For purposes of this Part, the following definitions are applicable: 
(a) Substance use disorder residential service or residential service means a substance use 
disorder residential service providing an array of services for persons with substance use 
disorders, which may be provided directly or through cooperative relationships with other 
community service providers. 
 
(b) Levels of service. There are three levels of service that can be offered in a residential 
setting which are distinguished by the complement of services available on site as well as the 
functional capacity of the patient served in each setting: 
 
 (1) Intensive residential rehabilitation services means substance use disorder residential 
services requiring twenty four hours a day, seven days per week treatment in a structured 
environment for individuals whose potential for independent living in recovery is contingent 
upon social habilitation or rehabilitation. An integral part of this service is the case management 
of additional services from other providers that are needed by the resident. This level of 
residential service requires established written agreements with other appropriately certified 
providers to furnish physical and mental health treatment services, in addition to educational, 
social and vocational services. These services are appropriate for individuals who require 
substance use disorder services in a residential setting as determined by utilizing the OASAS 
level of care determination protocol. 
 
 (2) Community residential services means substance use disorder residential services 
providing supervised services to persons making the transition to independent living. Persons 
appropriate for this service require the support of a substance free environment while receiving 
either outpatient services or educational and/or vocational services. These transitional residential 
services are for individuals who are completing or have completed a course of treatment, but 
who are not ready for independent living yet due to unresolved clinical issues or unmet needs for 
personal, social or vocational skills development. These services are appropriate for individuals 
who require ongoing clinical support. 
 
 (3) Supportive living services means substance use disorder treatment services which are 
designed to promote independent living in a supervised setting for individuals who have 
completed another course of treatment, are making the transition to independent living, and 
whose need for services does not require staffing on site twenty-four hours a day. These 
treatment services are for individuals who either require a long-term supportive environment 
following care in another type of residential service for an undetermined length of stay, or who 
are in need of a transitional living environment prior to establishing independent community 
living. 
 
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(c) Resident, for purposes of this Part, means the individual admitted to and receiving 
services from the residential service provider certified pursuant to this Part. 
 
§819.3 Standards applicable to all residential service providers. 
 
 (a) The program governing authority must approve written policies, procedures and 
methods governing the provision of services to residents in compliance with Office regulations 
and guidance which shall include a description of each service provided, including procedures 
for making appropriate referrals to and from other services, when necessary. These policies, 
procedures, and methods, shall address, at a minimum, the following: 
 (1) procedures and specific criteria for admission, retention, transfers, referrals, and 
discharge; 
 (2) level of care determinations utilizing the OASAS level of care determination protocol, 
comprehensive evaluations, treatment/recovery plans, and placement services; 
 (3) staffing including, but not limited to, training and the use of students, peers, and 
volunteers, and appropriate criminal history reviews as otherwise required by this Title; 
 (4) the provision of medical services, including screening and referral procedures for 
associated physical conditions; 
 (5) the provision of psychiatric services, including the use of OASAS approved, validated 
screening instruments for co-occurring mental health conditions, and referral procedures for 
associated mental health conditions; 
 (6) a schedule of fees for services rendered; 
 (7) infection control procedures; 
 (8) cooperative agreements with other substance use disorder treatment providers and other 
providers of services that the resident may need; 
 (9) compliance with other requirements of applicable local, state, and federal laws and 
regulations, OASAS guidance documents and standards of care regarding: 
 (i) education, counseling, prevention, and treatment of transmissible infections, 
including tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and other infectious 
diseases, in accordance with guidance from the Office. Regarding HIV, such education, 
counseling, prevention and treatment shall include condom use, testing, and pre- and post-
exposure prophylaxis and treatment; 
 (ii) the use of toxicology tests, in accordance with guidance issued by the Office; 
 (iii) medication and the use of medication for addiction treatment; 
 (iv) if acupuncture is provided as an adjunct to the services provided by the program, it 
must be provided in accordance with Part 830 of this Title. 
 (10) procedures for the ordering, procuring, and disposing of medication, as well as the self-
administration of medication; 
 (11) quality improvement and utilization review; 
 (12) clinical supervision and related procedures; 
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 (13) procedures for emergencies; 
 (14) incident reporting and review in accordance with Part 836 of this Title; 
 (15) record keeping procedures which ensure that documentation is accurate, timely, 
prepared by appropriate staff, and in conformance with the federal confidentiality regulations 
contained in 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 2; 
 (16) procedures by which required educational services are provided for school age children 
who are in residence as either an individual who is receiving treatment or as part of a family unit; 
 (17) procurement, storage, and preparation of food; 
 (18) record retention; and 
 (19) safety plan development. 
 
(b) Emergency Medical Kit. Pursuant to Part 800 of this Title, all programs must maintain an 
emergency medical kit at each certified or funded location; such kit must include basic first aid 
items and naloxone emergency overdose prevention kits sufficient to meet the needs of the 
program. Programs must develop and implement a plan to have staff and residents, where 
appropriate, trained in the prescribed use of a naloxone overdose prevention kit such that it is 
available for use during all program hours of operation, in accordance with guidance from the 
Office. 
 (1) All staff and residents should be notified of the existence of the naloxone 
prevention kit and the authorized administering staff. 
 (2) Nothing in this Part shall preclude residents from becoming authorized in the 
administration of the naloxone emergency overdose prevention kit, provided, however, the 
program director must be notified of the availability of any additional authorized users. 
 
(c) Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) 
(1) All programs shall maintain a patient with substance use disorder on approved 
medication, including those federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications 
to treat substance use disorder, if deemed clinically appropriate and in collaboration with the 
patient’s existing provider, and with patient consent, in accordance with federal and state rules 
and guidance issued by the Office. The program shall document such contact with the existing 
program or practitioner prescribing such medications. 
(2) To facilitate access to full opioid agonist medication for patients who are maintained 
on such medication at the time of admission or who choose to start such medication during 
admission, the program shall develop a formal agreement with at least one Opioid Treatment 
Program (OTP) certified by the Office to facilitate patient access to full opioid agonist 
medication, if clinically appropriate. Such agreements shall address the program and the OTPs 
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responsibilities to facilitate patient access to such medication in accordance with guidance issued 
by the Office. 
(3) The program shall provide FDA approved medications to treat substance use disorder 
to an existing patient or prospective patient seeking admission to an Office certified program in 
accordance with all federal and state rules and guidance issued by the Office. 
(4) The program shall provide education to an existing patient or prospective patient with 
substance use disorder about approved medications for the treatment of substance use disorder if 
the patient is not already taking such medications, including the benefits and risks. The program 
shall document such discussion and the outcome of such discussion, including a patient’s 
preference for or refusal of medication, in the patients record. 
 (5) The program shall ensure that the patient’s discharge plan includes an appointment 
with a treatment provider or program that can continue the medication post-discharge. 
(d) A substance use disorder residential service shall have as its goals 
 (1) the improvement of functioning and development of coping skills necessary to enable 
the resident to be treated safely, adequately and responsibly in the least intensive environment; 
and 
 (2) the utilization of individualized treatment/recovery plans to support the maintenance of 
recovery and the attainment of self-sufficiency, including, where appropriate, the ability to be 
employed functionally, and the improvement of the resident's quality of life. 
 
(e) All residential services shall provide, either directly or through referral to appropriate 
agencies, habilitative and rehabilitative services consistent with identified needs and 
treatment/recovery plans for services for individual residents. The following services shall be 
provided to residents as clinically indicated: 
 (1) Psychosocial Treatment. Each residential service shall make available to its residents 
individual, group and family services as appropriate that are evidence-based, person-centered, 
and trauma-informed. 
 (i) Group counseling sessions must be structured in size and duration to maximize 
therapeutic benefit for each participant. Program policies must include a process for determining 
group size, group purpose, monitoring resident experience, and assessing group efficacy. These 
sessions shall contain no more than fifteen residents. 
 (ii) These treatments must be evidence-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed, and 
individualized to the needs of the resident per the clinical assessment, in accordance with 
guidance and standards from the Office. 
 (iii) Evidence-based, person-centered, trauma informed individual, group and family 
counseling must be provided by a staff member operating within their scope of practice. 
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 (iv) Family counseling services that include significant others are provided by program staff 
with appropriate training or by referral to community providers with this expertise. 
 (v) Peer support may occur in a peer group setting where the group is facilitated by 
residents who have greater experience or seniority within the service. Such counseling must be 
supervised directly by a clinical staff member in attendance. 
 (2) Supportive services. Each service shall ensure that a comprehensive and appropriate 
range of support services are available to each resident. Such services shall include, as needed 
and as appropriate, legal, medical, mental health, recovery, wellness, and social services, as well 
as vocational assessment and activities. 
 (3) Educational and childcare services. Each residential service that provides services to 
school-age children must make arrangements to ensure the availability of required educational 
and childcare services. 
 (4) Structured activity and recreation. Residents shall be afforded the opportunity to 
participate in recovery and wellness activities designed to develop skills to enable them to make 
effective use of leisure time as well as improve social skills, self esteem and responsibility. 
 (5) Orientation to community services. Each substance use disorder residential service shall 
provide orientation to, and instruction in identifying and obtaining needed community recovery 
and wellness services, including housing and other necessary case management services, to each 
resident. 
(f) The certified bed capacity of each residential service may not be exceeded at any time except 
in cases of emergency and unexpected surges in demand where no alternative options are 
available, when the failure to accept individuals temporarily into the service would jeopardize 
their immediate health and safety, and where the excess of capacity would be time limited. 
Standards and procedures for such exceptions that are based upon the availability of adequate 
space, supplies and staff must be established with the prior approval of the Office. 
(g) Food and nutrition. 
 (1) Intensive residential rehabilitation services shall ensure the availability of three meals 
each day to each resident and community residences shall ensure the availability of two meals 
each day to each resident. Such meals shall furnish sufficient nutrients and calories to meet 
normal needs as well as the special needs of persons in recovery. Supportive living services shall 
ensure the availability of adequate food to all participants. 
 (2) Intensive residential rehabilitation services and community residences shall have 
available snacks and beverages between meals. A qualified dietician, dietetic technician, 
nutritionist, or other appropriately qualified personnel working within their scope of practice 
shall provide menu planning services. Other suitable staff shall be responsible for the 
procurement of food supplies and the training and directing of food preparation and serving 
personnel. Copies of menus shall be kept on file for a period of one year. 
(f) Safety plan development in accordance with guidance issued by the Office. 
 
819.4 Admission procedures. 
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(a) Admission requirements for all programs. 
 (1) The admission assessment or decision to admit must include identification of initial 
services needed until the development of the treatment/recovery plan. 
 (2) Unless otherwise authorized, the program must document that the individual is 
determined to have a substance use disorder based on the criteria in the most recent version of 
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or the International Classification of Diseases 
(ICD), as incorporated by reference in Part 800 of this Title. 
 (3) The decision to admit an individual must be made by a clinical staff member who is 
a qualified health professional and must be documented by the dated signature (physical or 
electronic) of the qualified health professional and include the basis for admitting the individual. 
 (b) Level of care determination. If an individual is determined to meet criteria for substance 
use disorder residential services, a level of care determination shall be made by a clinical staff 
member who shall be provided clinical oversight by a qualified health professional. The level of 
care determination shall be signed and dated by the clinical staff member. The level of care 
determination shall be made promptly after the individual’s first on site contact with the service. 
 (c) The level of care determination process must be in accordance with the governing 
authority's policy and procedures and incorporate the use of the OASAS Level of Care for 
Alcohol and Drug Treatment Referral Protocol (LOCADTR) or another Office-approved 
protocol. 
 (d) Prohibition against discrimination. Individuals that meet level of care criteria for 
residential services, in accordance with this Part, may not otherwise be denied admission in 
accordance with the provisions of Part 815 of this Title. 
 (e) Admission criteria. To be admitted for residential services, the individual must be 
determined to have recovery goals with the application of residential services and meet the 
admission criteria identified in this Part for the applicable level of service. 
 (f) If the individual does not meet admission criteria for residential services, unless the 
individual already is receiving substance use disorder treatment services from another provider, a 
referral to a service that can meet the individual’s treatment needs shall be made. The reasons for 
denial of any admission to the residential service must be provided to the individual and 
documented in a written record maintained by the residential service. 
 (g) There must be a notation in the resident’s record that they received a copy of the 
residential service's rules and regulations, including resident rights and a summary of federal 
confidentiality requirements, and a statement that notes that such rules were discussed with the 
resident, and that the resident indicated that they understood them. 
 (h) All prospective residents shall be informed that admission is on a voluntary basis and 
that a resident shall be free to discharge themselves from the service at any time. For prospective 
residents under an external mandate, the potential consequences for premature discharge shall be 
explained, including that the external mandate does not alter the voluntary nature of admission 
and continued treatment. This provision shall not be construed to preclude or prohibit attempts to 
persuade a resident to remain in the service in their own best interest. 
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819.5 Post admission procedures. 
 
(a) As soon as possible after admission, if not completed already, all programs must: 
(1) offer viral hepatitis testing (testing may be done by referral); 
(2) offer HIV testing (testing may not be conducted without a resident’s written 
informed consent in accordance with public health law and may be done on site or by 
referral). Residents on a regimen of pre- or post- exposure prophylaxis must be 
permitted to continue the regimen until consultation with the prescribing professional 
occurs. 
(3) Screen for co-occurring mental health conditions and behavioral health risks, 
including suicide risk, using validated screening instruments approved by the Office. 
(4) If clinically appropriate, all programs must: 
(i) conduct a blood-based tuberculosis test (testing may be done on site or 
by referral with results as soon as possible after testing); residents 
with a positive test result should be referred for further tuberculosis 
evaluation; 
a. an intradermal PPD may be placed in those circumstances when a 
blood-based tuberculosis test cannot be performed unless the 
patient is known to be PPD positive; 
b. PPD placement may done on site with medical staff interpreting the 
results or by referral with results as soon as possible after testing 
(ii) offer testing for other sexually transmitted infections (testing may be 
done on site or by referral); 
(iii) offer immunizations either on site or by referral; 
(iv) offer pregnancy tests to persons of childbearing potential (testing may 
be done on site or by referral); 
(v) provide or recommend any other tests the examining physician or 
other medical staff member working within their scope of practice 
deems necessary including, but not limited to, an ECG, a chest X-ray 
or other diagnostic tests. 
(5) As soon as possible after testing, programs must review and discuss any blood, urine, 
and skin test results, ECG results, chest X-ray results, or other diagnostic test results 
where applicable with the residents. 
(6) Any significant medical issues, including risk of transmissible infections, identified 
prior to or after admission must be addressed in the treatment/recovery plan and 
documented in the resident’s record. Treatment/recovery plans must include 
provisions for the prevention, care, and treatment of HIV, viral hepatitis, 
tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, and other infectious diseases when 
present. If a resident chooses not to obtain such care and treatment, the provider must 
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have the resident acknowledge in writing that such care and treatment were offered 
and declined. 
 (b) Comprehensive evaluation. 
 (1) The goal of the comprehensive evaluation shall be to obtain information from the 
resident and other sources, including family members and significant others if possible and 
where appropriate, that is necessary to develop an individualized, person-centered 
treatment/recovery plan. 
 (2) No later than fourteen days after admission, staff shall complete the resident's 
comprehensive evaluation which shall include a written report of findings and conclusions 
addressing, at a minimum, the resident's: 
 (i) identifying and emergency contact information; 
 (ii) the source of referral, date of commencing service, and name of the clinical staff 
member with primary responsibility for the resident; 
 (iii) both recent and history of substance use; 
 (iv) substance use disorder treatment history; 
 (v) comprehensive psychosocial history, including, but not limited to the following: 
 (a) legal history; 
 (b) transmissible infection risk assessment (HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, sexually 
transmitted infections, and other transmissible infections) ; 
 (c) an assessment of the resident's individual, social and educational strengths and 
limitations, including, but not limited to, the resident's literacy level, daily living skills and use of 
leisure time; 
 (d) the resident's current medical conditions, current mental health conditions, past 
medical history, past mental health history, and an assessment of the resident’s risk of harming 
self or others. 
 (3) The comprehensive evaluation must include diagnoses, including substance-related, 
medical, and psychiatric diagnoses in official nomenclature with associated diagnostic codes in 
the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or the International 
Classification of Diseases (ICD). 
 (4) The comprehensive evaluation shall bear the names of the clinical staff members who 
evaluated the resident and must be signed (physically or electronically) and dated by the 
qualified health professional responsible for the evaluation. 
 (c) Medical history and physical examination. Providers shall make every effort to execute 
appropriate consents to obtain and share medical information with the resident’s other medical 
providers as appropriate. 
 (1) Residents who do not have an available medical history and have not had a 
physical examination performed within the last 12 months prior to admission must have a 
medical history recorded, and a physical examination performed and documented in the 
resident’s record by a physician, physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner working within their 
scope of practice within forty five days after admission. The physical examination may include 
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but shall not be limited to the investigation of, and if appropriate, screenings for infectious 
diseases; pulmonary, cardiac or gastrointestinal abnormalities; and physical, neurological, and/or 
psychological limitations or disabilities which may require special services or attention during 
treatment. The physical examination shall also include the following laboratory tests: 
 ([a]i) complete blood count and differential; 
 ([b]ii) routine and microscopic urinalysis; 
 ([c]iii) if medically or clinically indicated, urine toxicology test; 
 (iv) pregnancy test for persons of childbearing potential; 
 (v) blood-based tuberculosis test 
 (a) an intradermal PPD may be placed in those circumstances when a blood-based 
tuberculosis test cannot be performed, with the results interpreted by the medical staff working 
within the scope of their practice unless the resident is known to be PPD positive; 
 (vi) any other tests the examining physician or other medical staff members working 
within their scope of practice deem to be necessary, including, but not limited to, an ECG, a 
chest X-ray, or other diagnostic tests. 
 (2) If the resident has a medical history available and has had a physical examination 
performed within 12 months prior to admission, or if the resident has been admitted directly to 
the residential service from another substance use disorder service authorized by the Office, the 
existing medical history and physical examination documentation may be used to comply with 
the requirements of this Part, provided that such documentation has been reviewed and 
determined to be current and accurate. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the following shall be 
offered regardless of a documented history within the previous twelve months: HIV and viral 
hepatitis testing. 
 (i) a focused medical history shall be taken and/or physical examination shall be 
performed and/or laboratory tests and other diagnostic tests shall be ordered if the examining 
physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner working within the scope of their practice 
determine that the elements of the existing medical history and/or physical examination and/or 
results of laboratory and other diagnostic tests require reevaluation based on the clinical 
judgment of the examining physician or other medical staff; 
 (ii) a focused medical history shall be taken and/or physical examination shall be 
performed and/or laboratory and other diagnostic tests shall be ordered if the resident has a 
physical complaint that was not addressed in the existing medical history and/or physical 
examination, and/or the resident has a new complaint that developed since the existing medical 
history was taken and/or existing physical examination was performed. 
 (3) Resident records shall include a summary of the medical history and the results of the 
physical examination, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic tests and shall also demonstrate that 
appropriate medical care, including mental health care, is recommended to any resident who 
needs such care. 
 (d) After the comprehensive evaluation is completed, a resident shall be retained in such 
treatment if the resident has a diagnosis of a substance use disorder in accordance with the most 
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recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or the International Classification 
of Diseases (ICD) and continues to meet the admission criteria required by this Part. 
 (e) If the comprehensive evaluation indicates that the resident needs services beyond the 
capacity of the residential service to provide either alone or in conjunction with another 
program, referral to appropriate services shall be made. Identification of such referrals and the 
results of those referrals to identified program(s) shall be documented in the resident record. 
 ([e]f) If a resident is referred directly to the residential service from another service certified 
by the Office, or is readmitted to the same service within sixty (60) days of discharge, the 
existing level of care determination and comprehensive evaluation may be used, provided that 
the documentation has been reviewed and, if necessary, updated within fourteen (14) days of 
transfer. 
 (g) Treatment/recovery plan. A person-centered, initial treatment/recovery plan addressing 
the resident's individual needs must be developed within three days of admission, or readmission, 
to the substance use disorder residential service. The treatment/recovery plan shall be developed 
by the clinical staff member with primary responsibility for the resident (“the responsible clinical 
staff member”) in collaboration with the resident and anyone identified by the resident as 
supportive of their recovery goals. This initial treatment/recovery plan must contain a statement 
which documents that the resident meets admission criteria for this level of care, identifies the 
assignment of a named clinical staff member with the responsibility to provide orientation to the 
resident, and includes a preliminary schedule of activities, therapies and interventions. 
 (h) A treatment/recovery plan, based on the admitting evaluation, shall be prepared within 
thirty days of development of the initial treatment/recovery plan to meet the identified needs of 
the resident, and shall take into account cultural and social factors as well as the particular 
characteristics, conditions and circumstances of each resident. For residents moving directly 
from one substance use disorder service to another, the existing treatment/recovery plan may be 
used if there is documentation that it has been reviewed and, if necessary, updated to reflect the 
resident’s goals as appropriate. 
 ([h]i) The treatment/recovery plan shall: 
 (1) be developed by the responsible clinical staff member(s) in collaboration with the 
resident and anyone identified by the resident as supportive of their recovery goals; 
 (2) be based on the admitting evaluations specified above and any additional 
evaluation(s) the resident has received or is determined to be required; 
 (3) specify measurable treatment goals for each problem identified; 
 (4) specify the objectives that shall be used to measure progress toward attainment of 
goals; 
 (5) include schedules for the provision of all services prescribed; where a service is to be 
provided by any other service or facility offsite, the treatment/recovery plan must contain a 
description of the nature of the service, a record that referral for such service has been made, the 
results of the referral, and procedures for ongoing care coordination and discharge planning; 
12 
 
 (6) identify the responsible clinical staff for coordinating and managing the resident's 
treatment, who shall approve and sign (physically or electronically) such; 
 (7) reference any significant medical and mental health issues, including applicable 
medications, identified as part of the medical assessment process; 
 (8) include each diagnosis for which the resident is being treated; 
 (9) be reviewed, approved, signed (physically or electronically), and dated by the supervisor 
of the responsible clinical staff member within seven (7) days after the finalization of the 
treatment/recovery plan. If the supervisor of the responsible clinical staff member is not a 
qualified health professional, another qualified health professional must be designated to sign 
(physically or electronically) the plan; and 
 (10) Pregnancies. Treatment/recovery plans must include provisions for prenatal care for all 
residents who are pregnant or become pregnant. If a pregnant resident chooses not to obtain such 
care, the provider must have the resident acknowledge in writing that prenatal care was offered, 
recommended, and declined. The program should offer to develop a plan of safe care with the 
resident and anyone identified by the resident, and such offer should be noted in the resident’s 
record. 
 (11) Transmissible infections. Treatment/recovery plans must include provisions for the 
prevention, care, and treatment of HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis, and/or sexually transmitted 
infections when present. If a resident chooses not to obtain such care and treatment, the provider 
must have the resident acknowledge that such care and treatment were offered, recommended, 
and declined. 
 
(j) Treatment according to the treatment/recovery plan. The responsible clinical staff member 
shall ensure that the treatment/recovery plan is included in the resident record and that all 
treatment is provided in accordance with the treatment/recovery plan. 
 (1) If, during the course of treatment, revisions to the treatment/recovery plan are 
determined to be clinically necessary, a multidisciplinary case conference will be held with the 
resident to determine what revisions to the treatment plan are needed to help the resident achieve 
their goals. 
(k) Progress notes. 
 (1) Progress notes shall be written, signed (physically or electronically) and dated by the 
responsible clinical staff member or another clinical staff member familiar with the resident’s 
care no less often than once every two weeks. Progress towards all treatment/recovery plan goals 
that are made during the two-week period must be documented in the applicable progress note. 
 (2) Progress notes shall provide a chronology of the resident's progress related to the goals 
established in the treatment/recovery plan and be sufficient to delineate the course and results of 
treatment. The progress notes shall indicate the resident's participation in all significant services 
that are provided. 
 (l) Resident deaths. If a resident dies while in active treatment any known details must be 
documented in the resident record. 
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 (m) Discharge planning. Discharge planning shall begin upon admission and shall be 
considered part of the treatment/recovery planning process. The plan for discharge shall be 
developed by the responsible clinical staff member in collaboration with the resident and anyone 
the resident identifies as supportive of their recovery. If the resident is a minor, the discharge 
plan must also be developed in consultation with their parent or guardian, unless the minor is 
being treated without parental consent as authorized by Section 22.11 of the Mental Hygiene 
Law. Information pertaining to testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections including 
HIV cannot be shared with the minor resident’s parent or guardian without the resident’s consent 
in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. 
 (1) A resident discharged from the program must be discharged for a documented reason. 
Residents discharged involuntarily must be discharged consistent with Part 815 of this Title. 
 (2) The discharge plan shall be based on the resident’s self-reported confidence in their 
recovery and following an individualized recovery support plan, an assessment of the resident's 
home environment, suitability of housing, vocational/educational/employment status, and 
relationships with significant others to establish the level of social resources available to the 
resident and the need for services to significant others. In accordance with guidance and 
standards issued by the Office, the discharge plan shall include but not be limited to: 
 (i) identification of continuing substance use disorder services, medical and mental health 
services, rehabilitation, recovery, wellness, and vocational, educational and employment services 
the resident will need after discharge; 
 (ii) identification of specific providers of these needed services; and 
 (iii) specific referrals with appointment dates and times for any needed services; 
 (iv) identification of the type of residence that the resident will need after discharge; 
 (v) prescriptions and/or other arrangements to ensure access to medications including 
medications for addiction treatment for substance use disorders; and 
 (vi) overdose prevention education, naloxone education and training, and a naloxone kit or 
prescription for the resident and their family/significant other(s). 
 (n) No resident shall be discharged without a discharge plan that has been reviewed and 
approved by the responsible clinical staff member and the clinical supervisor or designee prior 
to the discharge of the resident. The portion of the discharge plan that includes referrals for 
continuing care shall be given to the resident upon discharge. Documentation detailing why a 
discharge plan was not provided to the resident prior to discharge must be placed in the resident 
record if the resident did not receive the plan. 
 (o) Discharge criteria. A resident shall be appropriate for discharge from the residential 
service and shall be discharged when they meet one or more of the following criteria: 
 (1) the resident has accomplished the goals and objectives which were identified in the 
treatment/recovery plan; 
 (2) the resident declines further care; 
 (3) the resident has been referred to other treatment that meets their individual needs and 
cannot be provided in conjunction with the residential service; 
14 
 
 (4) the resident has been removed from the service by the criminal justice system or 
other legal process; 
 (5) the resident has received maximum benefit from the service; and/or 
 (6) the resident does not adhere to the written behavioral standards of the facility, provided 
that the resident is offered a referral and connection to another treatment program. A discharge 
for behavioral reasons with an offer of a referral and connection to another treatment program 
shall occur only after the program has utilized interventions to help the resident manage their 
behavior in a manner consistent with the written behavioral standards of the facility, and in 
accordance with guidance from the Office. 
 (p) A discharge summary which includes the course and results of treatment must be 
prepared and included in each resident's record within thirty (30) days of discharge. 
 
819.6 Record keeping. 
 (a) Substance Use Disorder residential services must maintain individual [case] records for 
each resident served. These resident records must, at a minimum, include the information 
required in this Part, as well as the source of referral, documentation of any case conferences or 
case reviews, reports of other evaluations and case consultations, medical orders, if applicable, 
and consent forms. 
 (1) the resident record shall include documentation that the resident and their 
family/significant other(s) were offered overdose prevention education, naloxone education and 
training, and a naloxone kit or prescription. 
 (i) documentation should include the reasons why overdose prevention education, 
naloxone education and training, and a naloxone kit or prescription were not offered, if 
applicable, or the reasons why the resident and their family members/significant other(s) 
declined overdose prevention education, naloxone education and training, and a naloxone kit or 
prescription. 
 (b) Resident records maintained by substance use disorder residential services are 
confidential and only may be disclosed consistent with the Health Insurance Portability and 
Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the federal regulations governing the confidentiality of 
patient/resident records as set forth in 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 2 and other applicable 
law. 
 (c) Any medical and/or mental health treatments provided, including medications, shall be 
maintained in accordance with the requirements of federal and state law and approved policies 
and procedures. 
 (d) All medical or psychiatric services provided must be provided pursuant to the orders of 
a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner working within their scope of practice. 
 (e) In the event that more than one substance use disorder service is offered by a facility, 
the resident record shall identify the service in which the resident is participating currently. 
 (f) Statistical information shall be reported to the Office as required and on the 
prescribed forms therefor. 
15 

819.7 Quality improvement and utilization review. 
 (a) Each substance use disorder residential service shall establish and implement a quality 
improvement plan and utilization review plan in accordance with this section. The utilization 
review requirement may be met by the following: 
 (1) the service may perform its utilization review process internally; or 
 (2) the service may enter into an agreement with another organization, competent to 
perform utilization review, to complete its utilization review process. 
 (b) The utilization review plan shall include procedures for ensuring that admissions are 
based on the program’s admission criteria that retention and discharge criteria are met, and that 
services are appropriate. The utilization review plan shall consider each resident's need for 
continued treatment, the severity of the resident's substance use disorder(s), and the continued 
effectiveness of, and progress in, treatment. 
 (c) Each residential service shall establish a written quality improvement plan in 
accordance with this section. 
 (1) The quality improvement plan shall identify clinically relevant quality indicators that 
are based upon professionally recognized standards of care. This process shall include but not be 
limited to: 
 (i) no less than quarterly self-evaluations which may include an independent peer review 
process as discussed below, to ensure compliance with applicable regulations and performance 
standards; 
 (ii) findings of other management activities, including but not limited to; utilization reviews, 
incident reviews, and reviews of staff training, development and supervision needs; 
 (iii) surveys of resident satisfaction; and 
 (iv) analysis of treatment outcome data. 
 (2) The residential service shall prepare an annual report and submit it to the governing 
authority. This report shall document the effectiveness and efficiency of the service in relation to 
its goals and indicate any recommendations for improvement in its services to residents, as well 
as recommended changes in its policies and procedures. 
 (3) The purpose of independent peer review is to review the quality and appropriateness of 
residential services. The review is to focus on such services and the substance use disorder 
service system rather than on the individual practitioners. The intent of the independent peer 
review process is to improve continuously the residential services provided to individuals with 
substance use disorders. 
 
819.8 General staffing. 
 (a) General Staffing Requirements. 
16 
 
 (1) Former residents. Staff members shall not be former residents who recently have 
received treatment in the program and/or who have completed the program less than one year 
prior to their employment application, per guidance and standards issued by the Office. 
 (2) Adequate coverage. There shall be sufficient staff to ensure that there is adequate 
coverage of all critical tasks necessary to the safe care of residents in the program, per guidance 
and standards issued by the Office. 
 (i) Residents in the program shall not be asked or required to perform staff duties. For 
valid therapeutic reasons and when included in the treatment/recovery plan, residents may be 
asked to perform certain duties under the direct supervision of staff members, in accordance with 
guidance and standards issued by the Office. 
 (a) Residents shall not operate motor vehicles belonging to the program under 
any circumstances. 
 (b) Residents shall not serve as overnight awake staff. 
 (ii) Programs shall have arrangements with outside entities such as staffing agencies to 
ensure adequate staffing coverage during times of staff shortages. 
 (b) Staff may be assigned either specifically to the substance use disorder residential service 
or may be part of the staff of the facility within which the substance use disorder residential 
service is located. However, if these staff members are part of the general facility staff, they must 
have specific training and experience in the treatment of substance use disorders specific to the 
services provided. The percentage of time that each shared staff is assigned to the substance use 
disorder residential service must be documented. 
 (c) Staff Training. Each residential program must provide clinical supervision and ensure 
and document that all clinical staff have training plan based on individual employee needs. 
Such training may be provided directly or through outside arrangements and must be provided 
at least every one year. Training must be ongoing and documented in each employee's 
personnel record. Training in suggested relevant topics includes, but it not limited to: 
 (1) substance use disorders; 
 (2) evidence-based, trauma-informed, and person-centered individual, group and family 
counseling; 
 (3) child abuse and domestic violence; 
 (4) therapies and other activities supportive of recovery; 
 (5) co-occurring disorders; 
 (6) transmissible infections such as tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, viral 
hepatitis, HIV; 
 (7) infection control procedures; 
 (8) clinical supervision; 
 (9) quality improvement; 
 (10) vocational rehabilitation and employment preparation services; 
 (11) cultural diversity and cultural competence; 
 (12) tobacco use disorder; 
17 
 
 (13) problem gambling; 
 (14) community based recovery supports and services; 
 (15) trauma-informed care; 
 (16) medications for addiction treatment; 
 (17) overdose prevention education; 
 (18) naloxone and naloxone administration; and 
 (19) agency policies and procedures. 
 
 (d) All substance use disorder residential services shall identify a clinical supervisor who 
shall be responsible for the day-to-day clinical operation of each residence and provide routine 
supervision for the staff. The clinical supervisor shall be a qualified health professional with 
at least three years of administrative and clinical experience in substance use disorder 
residential services. 
 (e) All substance use disorder residential services shall have sufficient clinical staff who 
have received training in, and are designated by the clinical supervisor to perform, the following 
tasks: 
 (1) evaluation of resident needs, development and implementation of individualized 
treatment/recovery plans for each resident, including individual, group and family counseling; 
 (2) participation with staff and, as necessary, other services and agencies to assure the 
development, management and implementation of comprehensive services for each resident, 
reflecting substance use disorder treatment needs and other habilitation or rehabilitation needs; 
and 
 (3) preparation and maintenance of case records for each individual resident. 
 (f) At least twenty-five per cent of all clinical staff members shall be qualified health 
professionals. 
 
 (g) Each residential service shall have a qualified individual designated as the Health 
Coordinator who will ensure the provision of education, risk reduction, counseling and referral 
services to all residents regarding HIV, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted 
infections, and other transmissible infections. 
 
 (h) There shall be sufficient staff available to ensure that the space and equipment of the 
service is clean and maintained in working order to minimize the need for treatment staff to 
perform nontreatment functions and to optimize operational efficiency. 
 
 (i) Clinical staff members who are not qualified health professionals shall have 
qualifications appropriate to their assigned responsibilities as set forth in the service's personnel 
policies and shall be subject to appropriate professional staff supervision and continuing 
education and training. 
18 
 
 (j) In addition to staffing requirements of this Part, a residential service may utilize 
volunteers, students or trainees, on a salaried or non-salaried basis if such volunteers, students or 
trainees are provided close professional staff supervision and necessary didactic education from 
both internal and external sources. 
 
819.9 Additional requirements for intensive residential rehabilitation. 
 (a) Admission criteria. In addition to the admission criteria applicable to residential services 
generally, an individual admitted to intensive residential rehabilitation services must meet the 
following criteria: 
 (1) The individual must have demonstrated an inability to participate in treatment outside 
of a twenty-four hour setting as indicated by one or more of the following: 
 (i) recent unsuccessful attempts at abstinence; or 
 (ii) substantial limitations in functional skills evidencing the need for extensive habilitation 
or rehabilitation in order to achieve lasting recovery in an independent setting. 
 (b) Clinical services. Intensive residential services are required to provide a minimum of 
forty hours per week within a structured therapeutic environment, consisting of the services 
identified in Section 819.4 of this Part and include the following: 
 (1) Rehabilitation and/or habilitation services. 
 (i) Each service shall ensure that a comprehensive and appropriate range of 
rehabilitative services are available to each resident. Such services include, but are not limited 
to: 
 (a) vocational services such as vocational assessment, job skills training, and 
employment readiness training; 
 (b) educational remediation services; and 
 (c) life, parenting and social skills training. 
 (ii) These services may be provided directly by the service or by referral. 
 (iii) These services shall be reflected in the resident's comprehensive 
treatment/recovery plan and the resident's progress shall be documented in the resident’s record. 
 (2) Personal, social, and community skills training and development. Residents shall 
receive training in community and adult living skills, as needed by each individual. Such skill 
development shall include, but is not limited to, social interaction and leisure activities. 
 (c) Comprehensive treatment/recovery plan update. 
 (1) Each comprehensive plan, once established, must be reviewed and revised at least 
every three months thereafter by the responsible clinical staff member in consultation with the 
resident and reviewed and signed (physically or electronically) by the supervisor. 
 (2) A summary of the resident's progress in each of the specified goals shall be prepared 
and documented in the resident's record as part of the plan update. 
 (d) Staffing. 
 (1) Each residential facility shall have a full-time on-site Director whose duties shall 
include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the service. 
19 
 
 (2) There shall be sufficient staff available to all residents at all times. During late 
evening and night shifts, there shall be at least one responsible staff person awake and on duty. 
 (3) In addition to the twenty four hour per day, seven day per week coverage, all intensive 
residential rehabilitation services shall have sufficient staff to ensure that counseling and 
rehabilitation services are available and responsive to the needs of each resident. An intensive 
residential rehabilitation service will have no less than one clinical staff member for every fifteen 
residents. 
 (4) For those residential rehabilitation services that serve children, at least one clinical staff 
member with training and experience in childcare shall be available. 
 
819.10 Additional requirements for community residential services. 
 (a) Admission criteria. In addition to the admission criteria applicable to residential services 
generally, an individual admitted to community residential services must meet the following 
criteria: 
 (1) The individual must be homeless or must have a living environment not conducive to 
recovery. 
 (2) The individual must be determined to need outpatient treatment services and/or other 
support services such as vocational or educational services, in addition to the residential services 
provided by the community residence. 
 (b) Clinical services. 
 (1) In addition to the service elements required of all residential services, community 
residential services are required specifically to provide a structured therapeutic environment 
designed to facilitate the individual's progress toward recovery from a substance use disorder(s). 
 (2) The service shall maintain a focus on the development and improvement of the skills 
necessary for recovery. 
 (3) Specific services to be provided shall include the following: 
 (i) Each community residential service shall ensure that its residents have access to 
evidence-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed individual, group and family counseling 
services as needed and appropriate. 
 (ii) Each community residence shall have written referral agreements with one or 
more substance use disorder outpatient services to provide outpatient treatment services, as 
necessary. 
 (iii) The community residence shall ensure that such services are integrated with the 
recovery and wellness activities and services provided by the residence and incorporated in the 
individual's service plan. 
 (iv) Each community residence shall ensure that a comprehensive and appropriate 
range of rehabilitative procedures are available to each resident. Such services include but are 
not limited to: 
 (a) vocational services such as vocational assessments; 
 (b) job skills training, and employment readiness training; 
20 
 
 (c) educational remediation; and 
 (d) life, parenting and social skills training. 
 (4) Rehabilitation services may be provided directly by the service or by referral. 
 (5) Rehabilitation services shall be identified in the resident's comprehensive 
treatment/recovery plan. 
 (6) Personal, social, and community skills training and development. Residents shall 
receive training in community living skills and adult living skills as needed by each resident. 
Such skill development shall include, but is not limited to, a program of social interaction and 
leisure activities. 
 (c) Treatment/recovery plan review. 
 (1) Each treatment/recovery plan, once established, must be reviewed completely and 
revised at least every three months thereafter by the responsible clinical staff member in 
consultation with the resident and reviewed and signed by the supervisor. 
 (2) Any resident who is having challenges meeting agreed upon goals defined in the 
treatment/recovery plan shall be engaged in a case conference with members of the 
multidisciplinary team who will collaborate with the resident to create revisions to the 
treatment/recovery plan that meet the resident’s treatment needs 
(d) Staffing. 
 (1) Each community residence shall have a full time house manager responsible for the day-
to-day operation of the service. 
 (2) There shall be staff on site twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. 
 (3) All community residential services shall have sufficient staff to insure that supportive 
and rehabilitation services are available and responsive to the needs of each resident. In 
addition to the twenty-four hours a day coverage, community residential services will have at 
least one clinical staff member for every fifteen residents. 
 
819.11 Additional requirements for supportive living services. 
 (a) Admission criteria. In addition to the admission criteria applicable to residential 
services generally, an individual admitted to a supportive living service must meet the 
following criteria: 
 (1) the individual requires support of a residence that provides a substance-free 
environment; 
 (2) the individual requires the peer support of fellow residents to maintain abstinence; 
 (3) the individual does not require twenty-four hour a day on-site supervision by clinical 
staff; and 
 (4) the individual exhibits the skills and strengths necessary to maintain recovery and 
readapt to independent living in the community while receiving the minimal clinical and peer 
support provided by this residential environment. 
21 
 
 (b) Clinical services. There shall be scheduled clinical interaction at least one time per 
week designed to support residents in their efforts to readapt to independent living in the 
community while maintaining their recovery and wellness. 
 (c) Treatment/recovery plan review. Each treatment/recovery plan, once established, must 
be reviewed at least every six months thereafter, at which time the progress toward 
accomplishing the goals and objectives is reviewed. Any resident who is having challenges 
meeting agreed upon goals described in the treatment/recovery plan shall be engaged in a case 
conference where members of the multidisciplinary team will collaborate with the resident to 
create revisions to the treatment/recovery plan. 
 (d) Staffing. Supportive living services shall be staffed as follows: 
 (1) there shall be at least one full-time equivalent clinical staff member for each fifteen 
residents; and 
 (2) there shall be sufficient clinical staff members to ensure at least one visit to each 
supportive living service once per week, in order to assure the proper maintenance of the living 
site and that residents are maintaining an environment and schedule appropriate to and 
supportive of each resident's independent living; and 
 (3) there shall be sufficient clinical staff members to ensure that each resident is contacted 
personally at least once a week by staff to assure safety, adherence to the established service 
plan and support for daily independent living, through guidance, training, and assistance, as 
necessary. 
 
819.12 Severability. 
 If any provision of this Part or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held 
invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Part which can be 
given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of 
this Part are declared to be severable.