The Bodies SAMHSA Lists for OTP Accreditation

Every opioid treatment program (OTP) must hold "a current, valid accreditation by an Accreditation Body or other entity designated by the Secretary" to be certified by SAMHSA (42 CFR 8.11(a)(2)). Not every accreditor qualifies. An Accreditation Body under Part 8 is "an organization that has been approved by the Secretary in this part to accredit OTPs dispensing MOUD" (42 CFR 8.2), and SAMHSA publishes the list.

Which bodies are on SAMHSA's list?

SAMHSA's "Approved Accreditation Bodies" page lists these organizations, with a named contact at each:

• CARF International (Tucson, Arizona), which lists an OTP accreditation resource specialist line.
• Social Current, listed as "Previously Council on Accreditation" (Washington, D.C.).
• The Joint Commission (Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois).
• National Commission on Correctional Health Care (Chicago, Illinois).
• Washington State Department of Health, Health Services Quality Assurance (Olympia, Washington).

One inconsistency is worth knowing about. SAMHSA's OTP FAQ gives a different number of approved bodies than the list page shows, so do not rely on a count. Use the current list page, and confirm with the body itself that it accepts OTP applications in your state before you build a timeline around it.

Who can become an Accreditation Body?

Part 8 allows "private nonprofit organizations, State or territorial governmental entities, or political subdivisions thereof, and Indian Tribes" to apply (42 CFR 8.3(a)). Applications go on Form SMA-163. A body's term of approval runs "for a period not to exceed 5 years" (8.3(g)), and it must tell SAMHSA at least nine months before expiration whether it will seek renewal (8.3(c)). State, territorial and tribal agencies may set up their own units to act as Accreditation Bodies if SAMHSA approves them and they guard against conflicts of interest (8.3(h)). That is how a state health department can appear on a list otherwise made up of national organizations.

Which duties must an approved body meet?

The duties in 42 CFR 8.4 shape what an OTP experiences:

• Survey cycle. Routine surveys "for initial accreditation, and then at least every three years to allow for renewal of certification," plus for-cause inspections when SAMHSA asks (8.4(a)).
• Noncompliance handling. Written notice to the OTP within 60 days, each finding rated minor or significant, and a correction schedule of no more than 180 days, with a copy to SAMHSA (8.4(b)(1)).
• Accreditation terms. Three years when only minor conditions need correcting; one year when significant conditions do, extended two years once they are fixed on schedule (8.4(b)(3)-(4)).
• Severe problems. Notice to the OTP and SAMHSA within 48 hours, a written report within five business days, 30 days to correct, and revocation if the OTP does not (8.4(b)(5)).
• Survey teams. At least two health care professionals covering controlled medication dispensing, MOUD dosing, psychosocial counseling and OTP administration (8.4(h)).
• Conflicts of interest. Surveyors and their spouses and minor children may have no financial interest in the OTP being surveyed (8.4(g)).
• Complaints. A response process for complaints from SAMHSA, patients, staff and others within five business days (8.4(e)).
• Fees. Fees must be "reasonable," generally limited to recovering costs, and each body "shall make public its fee structure" (8.4(i)).

How do you choose among them?

Start with what the organization already has. A treatment center accredited by CARF, The Joint Commission or Social Current for its other services already knows that body's standards manual, survey style and portal, even though the OTP needs its own accreditation application (see why a new OTP needs its own accreditation). Then ask each body:

1. Whether it is accepting new OTP applications in your state now, and its current survey lead time.
2. What it needs from you to issue the application confirmation that your SMA-162 must reference.
3. Its published fee structure for an OTP of your size, which Part 8 requires it to make public.
4. Whether its survey will be onsite or virtual; Part 8 defines an accreditation survey as either.

Then check what your state wants. Some states name accreditors in their own rules for state certification, so the choice can serve both purposes. Our post on choosing among CARF, The Joint Commission and COA compares the general behavioral health side.

Can a body lose its approval?

If SAMHSA withdraws a body's approval, the certifications of OTPs it accredited generally stay in effect for one year, and within that year those programs "must obtain accreditation from another Accreditation Body," unless SAMHSA sets a shorter period or extends it case by case (42 CFR 8.13(b)). It is rare, but it is one more reason to keep your policies current enough to survive a survey by any body on the list.

How do we help?

We do not accredit anyone and are not affiliated with any accrediting body. We prepare the OTP accreditation application and the policies and documents a survey reads, as part of our Opioid Treatment Program Approval Package ($6,995 plus the state license package), and our Mock Survey ($1,495) rehearses the survey against 42 CFR 8.12 and the body's elements. You choose the body, apply, are surveyed and pay its fees directly. See pricing and the OTP approval hub.