C4 - Using a Multi-Disciplinary Process to Apply the 42 CFR Final Rule for Making Patient-Centered Decisions on Take Home Medications

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

1:30pm - 3:00pm EST

Location: Salons A-B

Earn 1.5 CE Hour(s)

Primary Presenter(s)

Ari Kriegsman, MD, FASAM

Medical Director
Behavioral Health Network
Springfield, Massachusetts

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Co-Presenter(s)

Hazel O. Barrett, LPN

Nurse Supervisor
Behavioral Health Netwrok
Springfield, Massachusetts
Ryan Vega, LICSW (she/her/hers)

Program Director
Behavioral Health Network Holyoke Opioid Treatment Program
Holyoke, Massachusetts

Presentation Summary: 42 CFR Part 8 Final Rule’s direction on methadone take home medication represents a paradigm shift that has led to decreased barriers to care and an increase in patient-centered treatment. The Final Rule, however, provides limited practical guidance on how OTPs can systematically and equitably carry out these changes. Our multi-disciplinary panel from a large, urban OTP will share how to comprehensively approach these decisions. Our presentation will include staff education, sample workflows, novel clinical assessment tools, and a review of cases.

Learning Objectives:

At the completion of this activity, participants will:

Evaluate the current data on the safety of increased take home methadone provision.
Apply a comprehensive assessment of active substance use disorder and incorporate this with a risk/benefit analysis to make structured decisions on take home bottles.
Create work flows and assessments for assessing OTP patients for take home doses.