SECTION 158.
The department of public health, in consultation with the bureau of substance abuse services, shall create an extended-release injectable naltrexone pilot program for individuals with opioid or alcohol addiction being treated in licensed clinical stabilization service programs. The department of public health shall select locations for the pilot program based on prevalence of need; provided, however, that there shall be not less than 2 program locations selected. Each program shall operate for 2 years and collect outcomes data on an ongoing basis, in a manner described in this section and as determined by the commissioner of public health.
Locations selected by the department for the pilot program shall be granted additional funding, as determined by the department, for staff or other needs associated with prescribing and administering extended-release injectable naltrexone to patients prior to discharge and, as part of discharge planning, connect such patients with community providers prescribing extended-release injectable naltrexone and offering substance abuse counseling.
The department of public health shall collect data in order to gauge the success of the program in effectuating long-term recovery and track trends within the patient population. Such data shall be collected by tracking each individual participant post discharge from the clinical stabilization service program for no less than 1 year in a manner to be determined by the commissioner of public health. Information collected by the department during this time shall include to the extent possible, but shall not be limited to: (i) whether the individual is actively engaged in outpatient or inpatient treatment for a substance use disorder; (ii) whether the individual is using extended-release injectable naltrexone or other medication-assisted therapies; (iii) any barriers to accessing treatment in the community; (iv) any episodes of relapse; (v) any hospitalization related to substance misuse or overdose; and (vi) any record of arrest or incarceration for drug-related offenses since discharging from the clinical stabilization service program.
For the purposes of this section, "clinical stabilization service programs" shall mean 24-hour clinically managed post-detoxification treatment for adults or adolescents, as defined by the department of public health that usually follows acute treatment services for substance abuse; provided, however, that "clinical stabilization service programs" may include intensive education and counseling regarding the nature of addiction and its consequences, relapse prevention, outreach to families and significant others and aftercare planning for individuals beginning to engage in recovery from addiction.
For the duration of the pilot program, the department of public health shall issue a report annually, on or before June 30, to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate who shall forward the same to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, and the joint committee on public health. The report shall include a program progress update and provide outcomes data.