What Certifications Are Best for an Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Center

The responsibilities in starting a drug rehab center are not limited to staffing, facility setup, and necessary licensing, rather they also include equally important certifications. They help you with regulatory compliance, client attraction, and eligibility for getting insurance reimbursements and to market. The certifications most suitable and essential for an outpatient substance abuse treatment facility include CARF accreditations, HIPAA, and LegitScript certification. Here, we will be going into greater detail about certifications for addiction treatment facilities.

Do you intend to get personalized guidance as to which certifications are best for your outpatient treatment facility? Get connected with Strategique Partners today from here. 

1. Licensing and Regulatory Requirements for Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Center

Almost every state has made it mandatory to be licensed with the state’s behavioral health regulating body to function as an addiction treatment center. Therefore, being licensed is synonymous with being able to function as a substance abuse treatment center. By researching the following, you can get behavioral health business licensing successfully. 

1. Your state’s licensing requirements for outpatient substance abuse treatment
2. Zoning laws or certification to function as an outpatient clinic at a particular place
3. Licensing authority, application process, and application fees

Licensing is said to be the most difficult aspect for those having experience in this sector. Therefore, it is often useful to seek the help of a behavioral health business licensing expert, Strategique Partners. 

How to Obtain a Drug Rehab License

Obtaining a license for drug rehab or outpatient program of an addiction treatment center includes the following steps:

• Research about the licensing and regulatory requirements 
• Submit an application for outpatient licensing
• Fulfill all the guidelines
• Get inspected by authorities
• Pay the fees
• Get Licensed

2. Popular Accreditations in the Behavioral Healthcare Sector (CARF vs. The Joint Commission)

Anyone remotely associated with behavioral health businesses like mental health and drug rehab centers would know the significance of CARF or the Joint Commission. These are popular accrediting agencies that have acquired international renown for assuring quality care standards in the behavioral health sector. Being accredited is identified as a mark of trust and capability.

a. Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)

CARF is recognized widely in the behavioral health industry and a great choice for outpatient substance abuse treatment businesses. Getting a certification from CARF can help you in these ways:

1. Attracts patients, insurers, and referral sources.
2. Essential in securing private insurers and government funding
3. Helps in operational efficiency and standard of care

How to Get CARF Accreditation

You can earn a CARF accreditation by following a few simple steps:

1. Choose the accreditation program suitable for your outpatient clinic from the CARF website
2. Apply by filling out an application or initial contact, available on the website. 
3. Wait for a CARF representative to contact you
4. Get your clinic inspected by the CARF reviewer
5. In case you pass the inspection, you will get an accreditation, which needs to be reviewed annually or after 3 years.

However, the key is understanding the CARF accreditation costs to ensure easy accreditations. 

b. The Joint Commission (TJC)

The Joint Commission is another reputable healthcare accreditation lender and is widely identified with quality standards. You can get your outpatient behavioral health business accredited by TJC by achieving JCAHO behavioral health standards. However, its scope is broader in comparison to CARF which focuses on addiction treatment recovery. 

How to Get The Joint Commission Accreditation

The process of getting a Joint Commission Accreditation for your outpatient substance abuse center includes these steps:

1. Applying through the TJC website
2. Submitting accreditation and survey fees
3. Getting your clinic surveyed by TJC experts
4. Getting TJC certification, which is subject to renewals

The accreditation with CARF and TJC, however, is not as simple. It requires considerable research, subsequent planning, and preparations to pass their inspections. Otherwise, it can also cost you a lot of money. This is why we offer accreditation support for outpatient rehab centers. 

3. SAMHSA Certification for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Outpatient Clinic

It is mandatory for outpatient addiction treatment centers offering medication such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone to get certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This is needed because of the following reasons:

1. A legal requirement for opioid treatment facilities
2. Eligibility for federal grants and financing options
3. Compliance with federal substance use treatment guidelines

You can easily get SAMHSA certification with the help of our regulatory assistance for behavioral health businesses. 

How to Obtain SAMHSA Certification

The process to obtain a SAMHSA certification is simple:

1. Apply for SAMHSA Opioid Treatment Program Certification
2. Obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approval for controlled medication
3. Pass the facility inspections and data-keeping requirements

To achieve SAMHSA certification, you may need the help of Data Tracking and Outcome Management support. 

4. LegitScript Certification Necessary for the Marketing of  Outpatient Clinic

Marketing and online advertising are the most relevant ways to reach your potential customers. However, as an addiction treatment service provider, you cannot market your facility and various programs through Google, Facebook, or other digital ads without an additional certificate known as LegitScript Certification. It will do the following things for you:

• Make your outpatient facility eligible for advertising
• Will garner credibility around your brand name

 

 

How to Get LegitScript Certified

The process of getting a  LegitScript certificate for your outpatient substance abuse treatment center includes three simple steps:

1. Apply through apply now option on the addiction treatment certification page on their website
2. Expect a verification of your treatment center’s legitimacy 
3. Maintain the certification once you get LegitScript certified

LegitScript holds key value in addiction treatment center marketing and behavioral health branding. You can consider our digital marketing guidance to easily obtain a LegitScript certification.  

5. National Association for Behavioral Healthcare Membership

Acquiring membership of the National Association for Behavioral Healthcare (NABH) is not mandatory for legal functioning. However, it is instrumental in building your outpatient substance abuse treatment center’s reputation within the community. It will ensure your access to:

1. Regulatory Updates
2. Treatment-Related Training
3. Advocacy Programs
4. Efficient Practices

How to Earn Membership of NABH for Your Outpatient Facility?

You can become a NABH member by:

1. Applying for membership through their website portal or in print form through mail
2. Paying an annual membership dues, detailed into various categories based on the worth of your business
3. Getting a membership offer

6. HIPAA Compliance Certification

The connection between HIPAA and behavioral health businesses holds great significance in terms of meeting ethical standards. Since outpatient treatment centers handle sensitive patient data, it is essential to ensure that this data remains confidential and protected. HIPAA or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was first introduced as a law in 1996, which now requires third-party compliance certification from addiction treatment centers to show commitment to data security.

How to Obtain HIPAA Certification

There is no direct HIPAA certifying governmental agency, rather you have to do the following:

1. Conduct a HIPAA risk assessment to identify issues in data security.
2. Implement data security policies and train the staff accordingly
3. Finally apply for certification from an accredited HIPAA compliance provider.

Navigating the certification landscape for an outpatient substance abuse treatment center can become challenging. HIPAA compliance may seem simple. However, even this can come with its unique challenges. 

How Can Strategique Partners Help in Getting a Certificate for an Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Clinic?

Getting various certifications for an outpatient substance abuse treatment clinic is not an easy job to do. As an outpatient startup, you will be required to:

1. Research about Various Certifications Relevant and Suitable to Your Outpatient Clinic
2. Plan your budget according to the certification costs
3. Prepare your facility for particular certifications

All this can become quite complicated. So that you may focus on your operations and outpatient services, Strategique Partners, a seasoned behavioral health business expert, puts forth its certification, accreditation, and licensing support for you. This becomes all the more necessary with two simple facts:

1. Strategique Partners’ matchless expertise in helping outpatient businesses get certified
2. Convenience for you in focusing on running your businesses, instead of worrying about the hassle of certification

Therefore, it is only a wise decision to select an authority on behavioral health certifications to ensure that you do not lose money on the rejection of your certification application. 

FAQs Regarding the Certification of an Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Center

The following lines offer further answers to the commonly held questions regarding the certification of an outpatient substance abuse treatment center:

1. What Is the Difference Between State Licensing and Accreditation for Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Centers?

State licensing is a legal necessity that ensures a treatment center complies with specific state regulations, whereas accreditation is voluntary. In obtaining accreditation, you undergo inspection against rigorous national standards set by accrediting bodies such as CARF and the Joint Commission.

2. How Does Accreditation Impact Insurance Reimbursement for Outpatient Treatment Centers?

Accreditations have a positive impact on insurance reimbursement for outpatient treatment centers. Insurance providers can prioritize those outpatient centers having accreditations over those not having them. This means that insurance companies are more willing to include them in their networks.

3. Are There Specific Certifications Required for Staff Members in an Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Center?

Yes, there are specific staff certifications and licenses in an outpatient substance abuse treatment center. Medical and counseling certification or licensing for staff members in outpatient clinics are required by state governing bodies.