(1) To receive a grant, an eligible organization or practice must submit an application to the center in accordance with pilot program guidelines and procedures established by the center. At a minimum, the application must include the following information:
(a) A specific description of the need in the county served by the applicant, including data on the prevalence of opioid addiction, the overdose rate, and the provider capacity in the county;
(a.5) The purpose for which the applicant will use the grant;
The amount of grant money requested;
The number of nurse practitioners or physician assistants willing to complete therequired training;
Identification of any incentives to assist nurse practitioners or physician assistants incompleting the required training and becoming certified to prescribe buprenorphine;
An agreement to institute policies and procedures for implementing medicationassisted treatment;
A description of how the applicant will achieve improved access to medicationassisted treatment in the pilot program area the applicant serves;
Identification of expected outcomes of care for opioid-dependent patients; and(h) An evaluation plan.
(2) The advisory board shall review the applications received pursuant to this section and make recommendations to the center regarding grant recipients and awards. In recommending grant awards and in awarding grants, the advisory board and the center shall consider the following criteria:
(a) The eligibility of the applicants;
(a.5) The demonstrated need in the area served by the applicant;
The number of opioid-dependent patients that could be served by nurse practitionersor physician assistants working in or with a practice or organization applying for a grant;
The written commitment of the applicant to implement policies and procedures forproviding MAT;
The written commitment of the applicant to have nurse practitioners or physicianassistants participate in periodic consultations with center staff; and
The written commitment of the applicant to participate in the evaluation of the pilotprogram.
(3) Subject to available appropriations, in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscal years, the center shall award grants to applicants approved in accordance with this section and shall distribute the grant money to grant recipients within ninety days after issuing the grant awards.
Source: L. 2017: Entire part added, (SB 17-074), ch. 226, p. 875, § 1, effective May 22. L. 2019: IP(1), (1)(a), (1)(f), IP(2), (2)(d), and (3) amended and (1)(a.5) and (2)(a.5) added, (SB 19-001), ch. 173, p. 2005, § 5, effective May 14.