Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas got another extension Tuesday allowing it to continue testing 49,000 probationers and parolees for drugs without a required certificate.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued an order July 18 directing the state’s Department of Community Correction to stop the testing until it is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, a federal law that sets standards for the testing of human fluids and tissue.
That order was to have taken effect last Friday, but the federal agency stepped in the day before and granted the state a one-week extension.
The extension granted Tuesday gives Arkansas another two months, until Sept. 29.
The federal agency’s language has also softened. The initial order said the state must “apply for and be issued” the certificate before the deadline. Tuesday’s extension says the state must “submit a completed CLIA application.” The Community Correction Department contends that its testing is conducted for law enforcement purposes and is therefore exempt from the federal law.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services spokesman Tony Salters said in an e-mail that the extension was granted “to allow additional time for needed review and consultations.” Community Correction Department spokesman Rhonda Sharp said the department is researching its options.
This article was published 07/30/2008
Copyright 2008 Little Rock Newspapers, Inc.