KYSAM Urges Revision of Visitation Requirements for Incarcerated Patients

On November 27th, the Kentucky Society of Addiction Medicine (KYSAM) sent a letter to the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) urging for the revision of patient visitation rules. Specifically, these inflexible patient visitation rules inhibit the provision of treatment for OUD in jails and prisons.

In the letter, KYSAM noted that they had previously requested an emergency opinion on the same issue from the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML), which was pursued. However, KYSAM noted that KBN has a similar policy in place, potentially inhibiting access to treatment in correctional facilities. Due to these strict patient visitation rules, addiction treatment professionals face barriers relating to transportation, staffing, and telehealth appointments. As such, KYSAM urged KBN to consider revising their patient visitation rules, specifically pertaining to providing OUD treatment in jails and prisons, in alignment with KBML’s forthcoming policy change.  

Read the letter here.