Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) scope of services
AWC Drug & Alcohol Consortium members have access to the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) services provided by our contracted provider – ComPysch. NOTE: ComPysch is the also serves as the Employee Assistance Program provider for the AWC Employee Benefit Trust. The phone number is 1.800.570.9315.
When an employee violates a U.S. DOT drug and alcohol regulation, the employer is required to give the employee a listing of SAP(s) readily available to the employee – regardless of the employer’s policy on continuation of employment. Contact your D&A staff for assistance. Have your employee sign the Acknowledgement of Referral to Substance Abuse Professional.
Note: Please check with your medical benefits program to see if special arrangements need to be made for SAP services, assessment and treatment referral.
As detailed in the U.S. Department of Transportation Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) Guidelines, a SAP is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare. The U.S. DOT guidelines also stipulate that a SAP maintain a certain level of credentials, possess specific knowledge, receive training, achieve a passing score on an examination, and obtain continuing education credits.
The following services will be provided by the SAP, pursuant to the D&A Consortium member’s policies, and the willingness of the test-positive employee:
- Provide assessment of any affected employee testing positive. The SAP will confer with the Medical Review Officer (MRO) to obtain results interpretation.
- Oversee the placement of any employee in need in an appropriate treatment facility. The SAP will not make any referral to his/her own private practice, nor to a person or organization in which the SAP has financial interest.
- Provide the employer with the recommended treatment plan.
- Assist the treatment professional in developing a plan of recovery.
- Prior to the employee’s return to safety-sensitive duties, the SAP will meet face-to-face with the employee to determine if the individual has demonstrated successful compliance with recommendations of the initial evaluation.
- Develop and direct a follow-up testing plan for the employee returning to work following successful compliance. The number and frequency of unannounced follow-up tests must consist of at least 6 tests in the first 12 months to a maximum duration of 60 months. The employer is responsible for following through with the SAP-recommended follow-up testing program, and scheduling the testing with the collection site.
- Provide the employer and employee with recommendations for aftercare (continuing education and/or treatment needed after return to safety-sensitive duties).