What is the difference between TPA and C/TPA?

 

What is the difference between TPA and C/TPA?

There is no major difference. TPA is the original name for companies in the 1990s that were early adopters of selling drug tests. When USDOT rewrote drug testing rules in 2001, primarily for clarity, USDOT added the consortium. The term "Federated/Third Party Administrator" appears in the 2001 edition of 49 CFR Part 40.



What is a Service Agent?

Service agents are vendors involved in providing various drug and alcohol testing services. Suppliers help employers implement USDOT regulations.

These may include:

  • Urine collector
  • Laboratory
  • Medical Review Officer (MRO)
  • Screening Test Technician (STT)
  • Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT)
  • Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)
  • Drug-Free Workplace Policy Advisor

The TPA coordinates various drug and alcohol testing services for employers and is also considered a service agent. These services can include random selection, preparation of annual Management Information System (MIS) reports, and coordination of urine collection, laboratory testing, MRO services, alcohol testing, and SAP assessments. C/TPAs must ensure that their service agents are qualified and that the services they provide are USDOT compliant.

What to look for in a C/TPA

When looking for a C/TPA, list the services you need. It depends a lot on your operation, and some other issues:

Do you have DOT regulated employees?

Do you have both DOT and non-DOT regulated employees?

Does your state have a drug-free workplace program requirement?

Are you doing business in one state or multiple states?

When you answer these questions and clearly list the services you need, you can begin matching qualified C/TPAs that can provide those services.

Some basics for evaluating potential C/TPAs you work with can help ensure that your employer's drug testing program includes:

Insurance coverage

Qualification

Certification

Experience

Ability to address your specific needs as an employer

Depending on the state in which your non-DOT drug testing program is located, the C/TPA must have expertise in state law and any state drug-free workplace program requirements. Many states offer workers' compensation insurance discounts when employers implement comprehensive drug-free workplace programs; if you're taking advantage of these programs and getting a discount, you'll need a C/TPA with knowledge and experience with that specific state program.


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