Worthy, McClughen Provide Legal Update at Addiction Conference

This week, Stacey Worthy, JD and Daniel McClughen, JD spoke at the CORE addiction treatment and recovery conference on Amelia Island, Florida. Their presentation, “Keeping Pace in a Rapidly Changing Environment: An Update for Treatment Programs and Recovery Residences,” provided a timely update on several legal, regulatory, legislative, and enforcement trends impacting addiction treatment programs and recovery residences, also known as sober living homes. Topics included federal and state fraud, waste, and abuse laws; recent actions by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and legislation recently introduced or passed at the state and federal levels. Mr. McClughen and Ms. Worthy also offered recommendations for best practices to help treatment programs and recovery residences stay compliant in this evolving environment. Additionally, Mr. McClughen co-presented the conference’s closing plenary session, entitled “Here, There, and Everywhere: Ethical and Legal Issues in Using Telehealth to Improve Addiction Treatment Capacity.” He provided attendees with a legal, legislative, and enforcement update related to telehealth. Topics included the Ryan Haight Act, prescribing buprenorphine and other controlled medications via telemedicine, practicing across state lines, informed consent, patient privacy, and recent state and federal legislation impacting those using or considering using telehealth to deliver addiction treatment.