This regulation governs narcotic treatment programs (OTPs) in Pennsylvania and sets specific requirements for the treatment of pregnant patients. It permits admission to comprehensive maintenance therapy without current physiological dependence if a narcotic treatment physician certifies pregnancy and medical justification. Programs must offer prenatal care or referrals, document treatment decisions and prenatal support, evaluate treatment status within three months post-pregnancy, and ensure patients are fully informed of risks from illicit drug use or narcotic withdrawal. Special restrictions apply to the use of LAAM for pregnant or potentially pregnant female patients.
View official source28 Pa. Code § 715.10 - Pregnant patients State Regulations Compare (a) A narcotic treatment program may place a pregnant patient, regardless of age, who has had a documented narcotic dependency in the past and who may return to narcotic dependency, on a comprehensive maintenance regime. (1) For these patients, evidence of current physiological dependence on narcotic drugs is not needed if a narcotic treatment physician certifies the pregnancy and, exercising reasonable clinical judgment, finds treatment to be medically justified. (2) Evidence of all findings and the criteria used to determine the findings shall be recorded in the patient's record by the admitting narcotic treatment physician before the initial dose is administered to the patient. (b) A narcotic treatment program shall give pregnant patients the opportunity for prenatal care either by the narcotic treatment program or by referral to appropriate health-care providers. (c) Counseling records and other appropriate patients records shall reflect the nature of prenatal support provided by the narcotic treatment program. (d) Within 3 months after termination of pregnancy, the narcotic treatment physician shall enter an evaluation of the patient's treatment status into her record and state whether she should remain in comprehensive maintenance treatment or receive detoxification treatment. (e) A patient who is or becomes pregnant may not be started or continued on LAAM, except by the written order of a narcotic treatment physician who determines that LAAM is the best therapy for that patient. (1) An initial pregnancy test shall be performed for each prospective female patient of childbearing potential before admission to LAAM comprehensive maintenance treatment. (2) A monthly pregnancy test shall be performed thereafter on female patients on LAAM. (f) The narcotic treatment program shall ensure that each female patient is fully informed of the possible risk to her or her unborn child from continued use of illicit drugs and from use of, or withdrawal from a narcotic drug administered or dispensed by the program in comprehensive maintenance or detoxification treatment. Notes 28 Pa. Code § 715.10 State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare. No prior version found. State Regulations Toolbox