NAVIGATING STATE-SPECIFIC BARRIERS TO CARE:

Pennsylvania State Regulations

This page is designed to help you understand regulatory barriers to care in Pennsylvania’s mental health and substance use facilities. The information on this page is color-coded to help you navigate regulations at a glance.

Green: There are regulations in the state code that require MH/SUD facilities to facilitate access. Information can be used for advocacy purposes in the event of a denial.

Purple: There are regulations in the state code that permit access, but do not require MH/SUD facilities to facilitate access. Facilities are allowed to use their own discretion. Information can be used for education purposes in the event of a denial.

Grey: There are no regulations in the state code that permit or prohibit access. Facilities are allowed to use their own discretion.

Red:  There are regulations in the state code that prohibit access. MH/SUD facilities are not permitted to allow access.

Substance Use Facilities

Mental Health Facilities

PRIVATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS:

STATE-RUN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES:

LONG TERM STRUCTURED RESIDENCES:

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES - ADULTS

  • SUD facilities are required to assist clients in obtaining supportive medical services when necessary. This should include access to administration of infusion/injection medication, if the client is unable to self-administer and the facility does not have appropriately licensed or credentialed staff.

    Date/Source

    § 711.63. Project management services.

    Accessed July 2025

  • Provided that a SUD facility has policies and procedures for self-administration of medications, there is nothing in the regulations that prohibits a client from self-administering medications.

    Date/Source

    § 709.32.  Medication control.

    Accessed July 2025

  • It is unclear if SUD facilities permit clients to bring medications from home/outside of the facility. However, there is nothing in the current regulations that prohibit this.

    Date/Source

    N/A

    Accessed July 2025

  • It is unclear if SUD facilities permit staff to administer medications to clients. However, there is nothing in the regulations that prohibit this. The regulations do say that facilities should assist clients in obtaining supportive medical services when necessary. This could include permitting staff to administer infusion/injection medications, if the client is unable to self-administer.

    Date/Source

    § 711.63. Project management services.

    Accessed July 2025

  • It is unclear if SUD facilities permit external providers to administer medications to clients. However, there is nothing in the regulations that prohibit this. The regulations do say that facilities should assist clients in obtaining supportive medical services when necessary. This could include permitting external providers to administer infusion/injection medications, if the client is unable to self-administer and the facility does not have appropriately licensed or credentialed staff.

    Date/Source

    § 711.63. Project management services.

    Accessed July 2025

  • There are no current regulations that prevent facilities from denying patients who use injection/infusion medications. Facilities are allowed to make their own policies for admission per decision of the Medical Director. However, according to staff from the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, exclusions for people who use infusion/injection medication is not typical in SUD admission criteria policies.

    Date/Source

    Source: DDAP Director of DDAP Bureau Program Licensure, via email on May 29, 2025.

  • We are unaware of reference to federal protections for people with disabilities in the administrative code.

    Date/Source

    Accessed July 2025

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION SERVICES - ADULTS

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION SERVICES - CHILDREN

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

  • Item description

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES - CHILDREN

  • Item description

  • Item description