What is the Role of the PAAG?
What will the PAAG Accomplish?
How are PAAG members selected?
What are the Responsibilities and Scope of Activities of PAAG Members?
How can I find more information on PAAG?

What is the Role of the PAAG?

• PAAG members support Aegis efforts to improve and enhance patient care through research and development of new treatment modalities, provision of extensive and comprehensive treatment services as well as raising the effectiveness of the
  existing programs.
  
• Members provide fair and honest advice to Aegis and government agencies regarding patients’ unmet needs, recommended changes to policies, protocols and procedures (PP&P’s), as well as reporting any unlawful or unfair practices taking place in Aegis.
  
• Members must be committed to expressing concerns and opinions on provisions of law and regulations, which are adversarial to the best interest of the patients, and will act independently or jointly together with Aegis.
  
• Advise Aegis on how to better serve patients, and to advocate for the larger community of Aegis patients and other clients.
  
• Provide feedback necessary for Aegis to develop and raise Aegis professional and ethical standards that have a direct relationship to the effectiveness of treatment
  and Aegis patients’ quality of life.
  
• Members are advocates for addictive patients’ rights and for the removal of prejudices and discrimination that prevent successful treatment and integration into a productive and positive lifestyle.
  
• PAAG members are committed to increasing community awareness through education. (Back)

What will the PAAG Accomplish?

• Advocate involvement binds patients, staff, administration, government agencies and communities together. It is everyone's responsibility to incorporate these groups into strategic alliance. Patient groups are a rich source to determine if a designed protocol will be effective with patients. In addition, these groups have a vested interest in helping communicate information about their program and attempt to bring about change in attitudes, perceptions and realities of their recovery effort.
  
• By involving patients in this process, the objective is to substantially improve the services provided to the Aegis patients and to effect change in the treatment criteria mandated by legislation and public opinion. PAAG members serve as educators and spokespersons in their communities to gain cooperation and improve the standing of all patients.
  
• PAAG will serve to reinforce patients’ ability to be directly involved in the treatment of their addiction and in the policies, which support that treatment. Patients will also have an outlet and process in which to work toward change of the discriminatory laws and behaviors, which surround the addict in many different arenas. (Back)

How are PAAG members selected?

• Clinic Managers will recommend people to serve as PAAG members. A representative from the Department of HR and Quality Assurance will interview each of the proposed members as a courtesy.
  
• Active patients who have demonstrated positive recovery and stable lifestyle (including no criminal activity and no positive urine drug screens) are eligible to become PAAG members. Persons who are discharged following successful completion of the program are also eligible. The Clinic Managers may consider anyone who wishes to participate, who complements the mission statement and the goals of PAAG and meets the criteria described and Corporate Officers to be a PAAG volunteer. (Back)

What are the Responsibilities and Scope of Activities of PAAG Members?

There will be a variety of issues that can be effectively handled by PAAG, including, but not limited to the following:

ADVISORY ISSUES
Proposed enhanced program services, amenities, and development of new treatment modalities, such as:

• Perinatal services
• Treatment of Elder patients
• Anger Management counseling
• Domestic Violence counseling
• Dual Diagnosis services
• Case management
• Contingency Management (i.e. rewards and incentives for successful recovery and
  other improvement)
• Legal Advice
• Nutritional counseling
• Outpatient Drug-Free Programs
• 12 Steps Recovery (STR) support groups
• Eligibility counseling
• a safe place for children to play while their parent is receiving treatment services
• Educational materials and accessories

Proposed advocacy matters and legislative work, such as:

• Contest prejudice and discrimination against the patient population.
• Contest denial of Medical services to active OTP maintenance patients
• Represent and announce positions regarding patients’ and client’s special needs
• Educate the general public, addict’s families, as well as governmental and medical establishments, including the Department of Social Services, parole and probation officers, judges, physicians, etc.
• Support the recent amendments to the 180 mg. “cap” on daily dose, and to the California restriction on 21 day detox limit
• Support the new regulatory requirement for accreditation of programs
• Support waivers and exception to Medi-Cal and Medicare regulation regarding the “lower of cost and charges” for the benefit of indigent patients
• Support new regulation for the enhancement of Medi-Cal approved services (i.e. Case Management) and eligibility criteria addressing the patients un-served needs
• Support new regulation for the prohibition of non-physicians (i.e., judges, parole and probation officers) to practice medicine and/or to deny treatment to addicts
• Support new regulation for the provision of replacement therapy in jails and prisons
  (“Jail dosing”)
• Support Aegis’ proposed regulation for the certification of counselors
• Support new regulation for the protection of patient’s rights, as defined under the Americans with Disability Act (“A.D.A.”)
• Support new regulation and guidelines for the new proposed Office Based Opioids Treatment (“OBOT”)

Conflict of Interest Resolution:

• PAAG members may also volunteer to Aegis Outreach and/or with 12 Steps to Recovery (STR) groups.
• PAAG members shall not request from clinic staff any confidential information about other patients.
• Every effort shall be made to carry out the business of PAAG with no disruption of the regular routines of the Aegis’ programs and clinics.

CODE OF ETHICS for PAAG Members

• PAAG members must be dedicated to the Mission Statement
• Patient confidentiality must be maintained by members at all times
• Members may not take advantage of membership to receive benefits, privileges or other advantages of services
• Becoming a PAAG member does not create a position of authority, and members cannot represent themselves in any way that suggests or implies that they have such authority
• Members do not represent Aegis
• PAAG members may not resolve conflicts. (Back)

How can I find more information on PAAG?

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