• Opioid Treatment Program Hub

  Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder using any of three FDA-approved medications: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. OTPs dispense medication and are certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). If your program provides MAT for persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder but is not a CSAT-certified OTP, or if you are unsure of your program type, please contact us to be connected with a resource specialist. To learn more about CARF’s accreditation for a full continuum of substance use disorder treatment, please visit our Behavioral Health page.
  

  The duration of treatment, type of medication, and medication dosage should be based on the needs of each person served, and objective withdrawal criteria should be used. Services are directed at improving quality of life and functioning by reducing or eliminating the use of illicit substances (to reduce criminal activity and/or the spread of infectious disease) and fostering vocational skills, family relationships, and community involvement.
  

  To be certified by SAMHSA, an OTP must be accredited by a CSAT-approved accrediting body like CARF. CARF accredits the majority of OTPs in the U.S. Find an accredited provider here.
  

   OTPs must select from the following core programs:

  • Detoxification
  • Outpatient Treatment
  • Residential Treatment

  OTPs offer a comprehensive continuum of services and can also select from one of the following supplementary programs:

  • Court Treatment
  • Day Treatment
  • Health Home
  • Integrated Behavioral Health/Primary Care
  • Intensive Outpatient Treatment

  The following specific population designations may be added to a program:

  • Children and Adolescents
  • Criminal Justice
  • Older Adults 
    
    

  Please refer to the program descriptions for further details.

  For more information on CARF opioid treatment program accreditation, please email otp@carf.org, or call toll-free at (888) 281-6531.

  CARF standards

  The CARF standards are developed with the input of providers, consumers, payers, and other experts from around the world. As such, CARF standards are field driven and have international consensus. Each year, CARF updates its standards manuals to ensure that the standards are relevant and guide service excellence with current practices.

  The Opioid Treatment Program Standards Manual and companion publications are available for purchase in the CARF Online Store.

  
  

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• Upcoming trainings

  CARF has available a variety of educational opportunities, including in-person trainings and webinars. Visit the Events page to view the schedule of upcoming trainings and to register.

  To arrange a private, on-site training, contact Emily Hosea, OTP Administrator, at ehosea@carf.org.

  For all other inquiries and consultation, email OTP@carf.org.

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• Medicare reimbursement for OTPs

  The Support Act of 2018 included a requirement that OTP services be reimbursed through the Medicare program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a hub on its website to provide OTPs with more information.

  Medicare billing and fact sheet (PDF)

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• Regulatory resources

  • 42 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 8
  • Federal Guidelines for OTPs
  • Contact your CSAT compliance officer
  • Who is your state opioid treatment authority (SOTA)?

  Opioid Response Network

  • What is the Opioid Response Network (ORN)?
    
  • Request technical assistance 
  • Subscribe to ORN's news bulletin

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• The quality corner

  • CARF Connection blog articles for OTPs
  • Tips for OTPs - Community Relations
  • Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit

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