California – A Changing Regulatory Environment

Location: Capra Session Description: 2023 was a year of unprecedented regulatory changes within the Department of Health Care
Services (DHCS). Revised regulations and a first version certification standards were released
at the end of 2023. Providers must be proactive this year with compliance in all changing
regulations.
In a significant shift, it is now mandatory for providers to be certified to offer intensive
outpatient/outpatient treatment (IOP/OP) substance use disorder (SUD) services in California.
This means that national accreditation alone, such as from the Joint Commission or
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, is no longer sufficient. The deadline for
submitting certification applications to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) was
December 31st, 2023. After this date, any facility providing primary services without proper
certification by the beginning of 2024 face daily sanctions including being restricted from
obtaining a citification for a period five years.
Another crucial update pertains to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services. All licensed
and/or certified facilities must now offer MAT services either directly or through referral. It is
imperative to have a comprehensive and compliant MAT policy ready for DHCS during
provisional, renewal, initial, or relocation processes.