Can a patient in an LTCF receive methadone for maintenance purposes?
If the LTCF is registered with DEA as a hospital/clinic, it need not be separately registered as a Narcotic Treatment Program (NTP) to administer or dispense methadone as an adjunct to medical treatment of conditions other than addiction. [21 CFR 1306.07(c)] If an LTCF that is not registered with DEA has a patient who is also currently enrolled in a licensed NTP, the NTP may transfer medication to the LTCF with the approval of the State Methadone Authority. (www.samhsa.gov/centers/csat/content/opat/statemeth.html) If an individual is not currently enrolled in an NTP and is in an LTCF that is not registered with DEA, a practitioner may administer narcotic drugs to the individual for relieving acute withdrawal symptoms when necessary while arrangements are being made for referral for treatment. No more than one days medication may be administered to the individual or for the individuals use at one time. Such emergency treatment may be carried out for no more than three days and may not b
