YOUR ACCREDITATION, ASAM LOC CERTIFICATION, AND BASIC COMPLIANCE PROGRAM CONSULTANT
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FREQUENTLY ASKED asam loc certification QUESTIONS
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ASAM Level of Care certification, delivered in partnership with CARF International, is the first program of its kind to independently assess and verify treatment programs’ ability to deliver services consistent with the levels of care described in The ASAM Criteria. The certification demonstrates a program’s capacity to deliver a specific level of care, thereby differentiating between the many levels of care available for addiction treatment. The ASAM Level of Care Certification Program aims to create transparency and give patients and families confidence in, and accountability around, the services each program offers. The program will also give addiction treatment providers recognition, validating their ability to deliver services consistent with The ASAM Criteria.
The ASAM Level of Care Certification Program has four main goals:
1) Support the implementation of consistent standards across the nation.
2) Provide a tool for objectively assessing fidelity to the level of care standards in the ASAM Criteria.
3) Enable diverse stakeholders - from patients and families to healthcare systems and managed care organizations - to determine whether specific programs have the capacity to deliver care at a specific ASAM level of care.
4) Help healthcare systems and payers ensure that patients have adequate access to all levels of care across the continuum.
ASAM, 2020
No. An organization does not have to be accredited by CARF or any other accrediting body to apply for the ASAM Level of Care Certification.
The ASAM Level of Care Certification is different from accreditation in that the certification assesses program fidelity to the ASAM criteria, not quality. Certification is not a substitute for accreditation. The process may viewed as complementary to accreditation.
1. Obtain the ASAM rating elements manual which can be found here:
https://www.asam.org/Quality-Science/level-of-care-certification
2. Obtain the ASAM 2023 Level of Care Certification Rating Element Updates which can be found here:
3. Take ASAM's new training course on the 2023 Level of Care Certification Rating Element Updates:
2023 ASAM Level of Care Certification Rating Elements
1. Organizations apply directly through CARF for the certification.
2. Undergo survey.
-All defining elements must be met at the time of certification survey.
-Non-defining elements programs must satisfy the proprietary scoring methodology.
3. Receive Certification.
4. Address any deficiencies in a plan of action submitted to CARF.
5. Annually attest to continued satisfaction of rating elements.
6. After three years, complete a recertification survey to maintain a certification.
ASAM, 2020
Providers of residential addiction treatment services can apply directly to CARF seeking certification for Level 3.1, 3.5, and/or 3.7.
3.7 Level of Care (Medically Monitored High-Intensity/Intensive Inpatient Services)
Services delivered at this level of care include a planned and structured regimen of 24-hour professionally directed evaluation, observation, medical monitoring, and addiction treatment in a residential or inpatient setting. Services are delivered by an interdisciplinary team of professionals, including physicians with expertise in withdrawal management, intensive inpatient treatment of addiction, and integrated treatment of subacute biomedical and/or emotional behavioral or cognitive conditions. Programs at this level are admitting patients who meet criteria for SUD of moderate to high severity with specifications for risk in two of the six dimensions, with at least one in dimension 1 (acute intoxication or withdrawal potential), 2 (biomedical conditions or complications) or 3 (emotional, behavioral, or cognitive conditions and complications. Patients admitted to this level of care should not leave the facility except under limited circumstances, such as speciality medical or diagnostic appointments, or medical/psychiatric emergencies.
3.5 Level of Care (Clinically Managed High-Intensity Residential Services)
This level of care can be compared to 3.7 without the nursing component. The aim is to stabilize dangerous addiction signs and symptoms. Services delivered at this level of care include specialty modalities and skills training that focus on reducing the risk of relapse, reinforcing pro social behaviors, and assisting with healthy reintegration into the community. Programs at this level of care are admitting patients who are appropriate for 3.5 as defined by someone whose needs in Dimensions 1, 2, & 3 do not require subacute medical services but whose problems in dimensions 4, 5, & 6 are severe to exclude outpatient and to warrant 24-hour structure and clinical services to facilitate recovery. Patients admitted at this level of care require a 24-hour supportive environment to initiate or continue recovery. Once a patient is not likely to relapse or continue use in a dangerous manner, transfer to a less intensive level of care is indicated. Patients admitted to this level of care should not leave the facility except under limited circumstances, such as specialty medical or diagnostic appointments, or medical/psychiatric emergencies. Patients at this level of care should not leave the facility to participate in recovery support services. When a patient is stable enough to engage in off-site recovery support services, they are ready to transition to 3.1.
3.1 Level of Care (Clinically Managed Low-Intensity Residential Services)
This level of care provides a a structured recovery residence with 24-hour staffing to prevent/minimize relapse, continued use, and continued problem potential. This level of care is characterized by services such as individual, group and family therapy, medication management and medication education, mental health evaluation and treatment, vocational rehabilitation, and job placement and introductory or remedial like skills workshops. This level of care is appropriate for individuals who need time and structure to practice and integrate their recovery and coping skills in a supportive residential environment. Interpersonal and group living skills are promoted through community or house meetings of residents and staff. The emphasis on community within residence facilitates social bonding and cohesion among recovering persons, reinforces recovery concepts and norms and introduces patients to the larger local recovery community and recovery oriented resources providers. In this level of care, treatment services are focused on improving the patient's readiness to change (Dimension 4) and/or functioning and coping skills (Dimension 5 and Dimension 6). Services facilitate the application of recovery skills, relapse prevention, and emotional coping strategies. Personal responsibility and reintegration to the community is focus.
ASAM, 2020
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
ASAM 2023 LOC certification rating element updates
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
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