BILL REQ. #:  Z-0605.1 

Read first time 02/17/2005.   Referred to Committee on Human Services & Corrections.

     AN ACT Relating to drug use among pregnant women; amending RCW 70.96A.090; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that drug use among pregnant women is a significant and growing concern statewide. The legislature further finds that methadone, although an effective alternative to other substance use treatments, can result in babies who are exposed to methadone while in uteri being born addicted and facing the painful effects of withdrawal.
     It is the intent of the legislature to notify all pregnant mothers who are receiving methadone treatment of the risks and benefits methadone could have on their baby during pregnancy through birth and to inform them of the potential need for the newborn baby to be taken care of in a hospital setting or in a specialized supportive environment designed specifically to address newborn addiction problems.

Sec. 2   RCW 70.96A.090 and 1995 c 312 s 46 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall adopt rules establishing standards for approved treatment programs, the process for the review and inspection program applying to the department for certification as an approved treatment program, and fixing the fees to be charged by the department for the required inspections. The standards may concern the health standards to be met and standards of services and treatment to be afforded patients.
     (2) The department may suspend, revoke, limit, restrict, or modify an approval, or refuse to grant approval, for failure to meet the provisions of this chapter, or the standards adopted under this chapter. RCW 43.20A.205 governs notice of a license denial, revocation, suspension, or modification and provides the right to an adjudicative proceeding.
     (3) No treatment program may advertise or represent itself as an approved treatment program if approval has not been granted, has been denied, suspended, revoked, or canceled.
     (4) Certification as an approved treatment program is effective for one calendar year from the date of issuance of the certificate. The certification shall specify the types of services provided by the approved treatment program that meet the standards adopted under this chapter. Renewal of certification shall be made in accordance with this section for initial approval and in accordance with the standards set forth in rules adopted by the secretary.
     (5) Approved treatment programs shall not provide alcoholism or other drug addiction treatment services for which the approved treatment program has not been certified. Approved treatment programs may provide services for which approval has been sought and is pending, if approval for the services has not been previously revoked or denied.
     (6) The department periodically shall inspect approved public and private treatment programs at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner.
     (7) The department shall maintain and periodically publish a current list of approved treatment programs.
     (8) Each approved treatment program shall file with the department on request, data, statistics, schedules, and information the department reasonably requires. An approved treatment program that without good cause fails to furnish any data, statistics, schedules, or information as requested, or files fraudulent returns thereof, may be removed from the list of approved treatment programs, and its certification revoked or suspended.
     (9) The department shall use the data provided in subsection (8) of this section to evaluate each program that admits children to inpatient treatment upon application of their parents. The evaluation shall be done at least once every twelve months. In addition, the department shall randomly select and review the information on individual children who are admitted on application of the child's parent for the purpose of determining whether the child was appropriately placed into treatment based on an objective evaluation of the child's condition and the outcome of the child's treatment.
     (10) Upon petition of the department and after a hearing held upon reasonable notice to the facility, the superior court may issue a warrant to an officer or employee of the department authorizing him or her to enter and inspect at reasonable times, and examine the books and accounts of, any approved public or private treatment program refusing to consent to inspection or examination by the department or which the department has reasonable cause to believe is operating in violation of this chapter.
     (11)(a) All approved opiate substitution treatment programs that provide services to women who are pregnant are required to disseminate up-to-date and accurate health education information to all their pregnant clients concerning the possible addiction and health risks that their opiate substitution treatment may have on their baby. All pregnant clients must also be advised of the risks to both them and their baby associated with not remaining on the opiate substitute program. The information must be provided to these clients both verbally and in writing. The health education information provided to the pregnant clients must include referral options for the addicted baby.
     (b) The department shall adopt rules that require all opiate treatment programs to educate all pregnant women in their program on the benefits and risks of methadone treatment to their fetus before they are provided these medications, as part of their addiction treatment. The department shall meet the requirements under this subsection within the appropriations provided for opiate treatment programs. The department, working with treatment providers and medical experts, shall develop and disseminate the educational materials to all certified opiate treatment programs.