§ 704.12. Full-time equivalent (FTE) maximum client/staff and client/counselor ratios.
(a) General requirements. Projects shall be required to comply with the client/staff and client/counselor ratios in paragraphs (1)—(6) during primary care hours. These ratios refer to the total number of clients being treated including clients with diagnoses other than drug and alcohol addiction served in other facets of the project. Family units may be counted as one client.
(1) Inpatient nonhospital detoxification (residential detoxification).
(i) There shall be one FTE primary care staff person available for every seven clients during primary care hours.
(ii) There shall be a physician on call at all times.
(2) Inpatient hospital detoxification. There shall be one FTE primary care staff person available for every five clients during primary care hours.
(3) Inpatient nonhospital treatment and rehabilitation (residential treatment and rehabilitation).
(i) Projects serving adult clients shall have one FTE counselor for every eight clients.
(ii) Projects serving adolescent clients shall have one FTE counselor for every six clients.
(4) Inpatient hospital treatment and rehabilitation (general, psychiatric or speciality hospital).
(i) Projects serving adult clients shall have one FTE counselor for every seven clients.
(ii) Projects serving adolescent clients shall have one counselor for every five clients.
(5) Partial hospitalization. Partial hospitalization programs shall have a minimum of one FTE counselor who provides direct counseling services to every ten clients.
(6) Outpatients. FTE counselor caseload for counseling in outpatient programs may not exceed 35 active clients.
(b) Counselor assistants. Counselor assistants may be included in determining FTE ratios when the counselor assistant is eligible for a caseload.
(c) Exemption for transitional living. Specific client/staff ratios are not required for transitional living facilities.
(d) Exceptions. A project director may submit to the Department a written petition requesting an exception to the client/staff and client/counselor ratios in this section. The petition shall describe how the characteristics of the program and its client mix support the request for the exception and shall be approved by the governing body. Granting the petition shall be at the discretion of the Department. Long-term residential facilities and halfway houses which include a client’s participation in schooling or employment as part of a treatment day are examples when requests for exceptions will be considered.
Notes of Decisions Applicability
Since the Public Welfare Code expressly excludes any drug and alcohol treatment facilities operated by the State and Federal governments from the scope of the applicability of Article IX and X, the staffing and licensing requirements set forth in Chapters 704 and 709 and promulgated thereunder are inapplicable to the programs operated at State correctional institutions. McGill v. Department of Health, et al., 758 A.2d 268 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2000).
Cross References This section cited in 28 Pa. Code § 704.4 (relating to compliance with staff qualifications); and 28 Pa. Code § 704.7 (relating to qualifications for the position of counselor).
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