Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 82 - DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES › Chapter 82-2 - CLINICAL EVALUATION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENTS FOR DUI OFFENDERS › Subject 82-2-1 › Rule 82-2-1-.05 - Clinical Evaluation Process

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1) Clinical evaluations shall only be administered at locations approved by the department by clinical evaluators' who have been approved by the department to conduct such evaluations and who appear on the registry of clinical evaluators.
(2) All clinical evaluations shall consist of a clinical interview and a review of the client's standardized screening instrument administered by the risk reduction program. In addition, the clinical evaluator shall utilize one or more assessment instruments approved by the department.
(3) Information obtained from the clinical evaluation must be sufficient to diagnose or rule out a substance-related disorder according to current DSM criteria and to recommend an appropriate ASAM level of service. If treatment is recommended, the evaluator shall recommend either short term treatment for clients requiring services no higher than ASAM level I, or longer term treatment for a client requiring services at ASAM level I or higher. The department will direct and define by policy the range of hours per week and the range of weeks of treatment required for short term treatment and longer term treatment.
(4) Clinical evaluators shall complete written evaluation reports for each client within seven days of completion of the clinical interview. The report must show the referral and the basis for the referral. The department may prescribe a format for preparation of these reports.
(5) If the evaluation results in a referral to treatment, the clinical evaluator must provide the client with a list of approved treatment providers for the level of treatment recommended.
(6) If the clinical evaluator determines that no referral to treatment is indicated:
(a) for a person with a first conviction only under O.C.G.A. 40-6-391, the clinical evaluator shall transmit a summary of the evaluation to the department for review within seven (7) days of completion of the clinical interview. The department may prescribe a form for these summary reports.
(b) for a multiple or habitual offender, the clinical evaluator must transmit a complete copy of the clinical evaluation, along with any other documents required, to the department for review within seven days of completion of the interview.
(c) The department will complete its review of the clinical evaluation within two weeks of the receipt of the evaluation or summary of the evaluation, as applicable. If the evaluation is approved, the department will issue a Requirements Met Certificate directly' to the client. If the evaluation is not approved, the department will contact the clinical evaluator regarding modification of the evaluation to include a referral to a specific' ASAM level of service. If the clinical evaluator disagrees with the department's recommendation, the department will arrange for a panel of three professional peers to review the clinical evaluation and the department's recommendation. The department and the clinical evaluator will abide by the decision of the peer review panel.