House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

Posted:	January 25, 2019 09:49 AM
From:	Representative Gene DiGirolamo
To:	All House members
Subject:	Drug & Alcohol Placement Criteria

Last year, I sent out an email raising concerns about changes in placement criteria proposed by the Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs (DDAP) that will impact access to addiction treatment in all of our districts. (See attached) My concerns remain unabated and I am seeking your co-sponsorship of legislation that will address the problem and assure that pregnant addicted women, addicted women with dependent children, veterans and homeless individuals with addictions and low-level drug offenders sent to treatment as part of sentencing are able to receive appropriate care. The Department itself concedes that its new proposed national placement tool is creating gaps in services and definitional problems that have also been encountered by other states. Through “guidance documents”, the Department is attempting to address these issues that are already handled by Pennsylvania’s current PA-specific admission criteria. Despite many hours of meetings, these issues remain unaddressed. The Department’s change in criteria is baffling to me. I don’t understand why we don’t use what is already in place. My proposed bill will require the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to develop or adapt specific criteria or continue to utilize the Pennsylvania Client Placement Criteria, criteria that is uniquely tailored to the state. It is never too late to stop a wasteful government practice. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation.
View Attachment

Introduced as HB386