HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced the agency recently issued Pennsylvania’s first telehealth exceptions for a DDAP-licensed substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provider in Pennsylvania, which will expand access to SUD treatment to more Pennsylvanians by providing another option to receive services virtually.
“(Gov. Josh) Shapiro’s administration is delivering on its promise to expand access to life-saving substance use disorder treatment by embracing evidence-based, technology-driven solutions. Licensing this model of care is more than a regulatory milestone — it’s a strategic advancement that enables us to meet Pennsylvanians where they are, both literally and clinically,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “Telehealth and mobile treatment options have been proven to reduce barriers like transportation, stigma and provider shortages — especially in rural and underserved communities. This move is a bold step toward closing the persistent health equity gap and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of ZIP code or circumstance, can access the care they deserve.”

DDAP recently issued a telehealth license to Gateway Rehabilitation Center (GRC), which has been an SUD service provider in Pennsylvania since 1972, to operate GRC’s Hope from Home telehealth program. The program will provide a secure patient portal, an interactive app, encrypted messaging, appointment reminders, resources, education, and a virtual telehealth suite that offers SUD counseling, psychiatric services, medication assisted recovery, preventive care, and coordination to other levels of care as needed. This will aid in improving access to treatment and stigma-free care.
GRC’s current hybrid telehealth program has, on average, 2,000 individual interactions per month. With the addition of this program, monthly interactions are expected to double within the year.

“We are pleased to work in partnership with DDAP as the first SUD treatment provider to receive a license specifically for telehealth treatment in Pennsylvania. We understand the importance and responsibility of sustaining a successful statewide telehealth program that reduces barriers to treatment and helps to address health disparities for people,” said Dr. Julia D’Alo, chief medical officer of Gateway Rehab. “Improving access for all affected by the disease of addiction aligns with the mission and vision of GRC. We are grateful for this opportunity to better serve Pennsylvanians.”
Prior to this program, only drug and alcohol facilities with a physical location in Pennsylvania could apply to DDAP for a license to also offer telehealth services. This new program does not require a physical location in order for a treatment provider to administer telehealth services.
A facility seeking to be licensed to provide telehealth-only services, without a physical location, will be required to, among other things:

• Maintain clinical records on a web-based electronic health record program;
• Maintain an electronic system for personnel files, including training records; and
• Agree to provide DDAP remote access to the facility files and client records at any time access is requested in accordance with 42 CFR 2.53 — audit and evaluation.

The Shapiro administration is prioritizing expanding access to SUD services and supports in the commonwealth. For instance, DDAP:

• Licensed Pennsylvania’s first mobile opioid treatment program to pave the way for increased access to medication-assisted treatment;
• Launched a workforce development pilot program with Carlow and Waynesburg universities to accelerate the training of new substance use treatment professionals; and
• Provided nearly $20 million in student loan repayments to approximately 350 substance use disorder professionals statewide to support workforce retention.

Currently, there are nearly 800 DDAP-licensed brick-and-mortar SUD treatment facilities across the commonwealth offering inpatient, outpatient and other treatment programs, and about 400 licensed recovery houses. Individuals seeking substance use treatment or recovery resources can be connected to local SUD resources by calling the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline at (800) 662-4357 or by using Treatment Atlas, a free, online locator tool to help Pennsylvanians confidentially find SUD treatment that meets their needs.
Learn more about the Shapiro administration’s efforts in combating the overdose crisis at ddap.pa.gov.