N.M. Admin. Code § 8.325.12.10 - POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

A. Every program shall establish written general policies, procedures and guidelines reflecting language in this rule in its entirety.

B. These established policies, procedures and guidelines shall further detail each of the following categories:

(1) Medication diversion:

(a) addressing prevention of diversion and misuse of MOUD;

(b) assuring diversion policies are visible in the facility;

(c) addressing consequential strategies for diversion, to include non-punitive approaches for remediation instead of immediately terminating from the program; and

(d) addressing critical incident reporting.

(2) Screening and treatment of pregnant individuals in compliance with 31.3.11 NMSA 1978.

(3) Withdrawal management:

(a) screening (clinical opiate withdrawal scale (COWS) or its equivalent) and assessment to discern level of withdrawal intensity, e.g. mild, moderate or severe;

(b) monitoring the individual;

(c) describing roles and responsibilities for staff;

(d) identifying treatment and supportive care to include assurances of the following:

(i) withdrawal treatment is planned and supervised by the program medical director;

(ii) dose reduction occurs at a rate deemed medically appropriate; and

(iii) program participant is informed of the risks of withdrawal treatment.

(4) Transition of care, to include:

(a) engaging and educating the program participant;

(b) assuring MCOs initiate transition of care planning prior to release to facilitate continuity of care, and inclusion of tribal 638 or Indian health service program staff for transition in tribal communities for fee for service participants; and

(c) describing roles and responsibilities for staff.

(5) Medication tapering guidelines: Each of the following shall have its own guidelines:

(a) transferring patients to higher level of care based on medical necessity;

(b) assuring pregnancy and postpartum patient care; and

(c) providing reentry support.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.325.12.10

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 16, August 27, 2024, eff. 9/1/2024