Looking for a good reason to consider opening an addiction treatment center in Connecticut?
Well, for one, Connecticut recently signed a massive $26 billion dollar settlement with four different pharmaceutical companies linked to the manufacture of our nation’s opioid crisis. Of the $26 billion dollar settlement, it is expected that $300 million will be funneled into addiction treatment facilities in Connecticut, making this state a potentially well-funded home for a new addiction treatment center.
New addiction treatment centers in Connecticut do face some challenges, however. One labor union in the state reports that addiction treatment professionals are in such short supply in Connecticut that treatment centers are closing doors for lack of staff. Any business plans that include Connecticut addiction treatment should take these state-wide staffing concerns very seriously.
That said, demand for treatment in Connecticut remains high. The most recent tally shows that opioid-involved overdoses are up 14.3% in the state. Like many states with diverse populations, Connecticut reports the highest mortality rates for opioid-related overdose among marginalized populations. In Connecticut, “non-Hispanic Black males, aged 25-54 years” are the most high-risk population for opioid overdose. These disparities in health outcomes have informed the state’s new Overdose Prevention Strategy, which includes more state funding for treatment, with a particular emphasis on underserved populations. Trends like these should be of particular interest to providers looking for a viable (and very much needed) niche for culturally responsive care in Connecticut.
Those are the pros and cons. Now, we’ll consider what goes into opening an addiction treatment center and getting licensed in the state of Connecticut.
In Connecticut, Addiction Treatment Centers Face Strict Laws Around Licensing and Certification
According to Connecticut General Statutes Section 19a-491:
(a) No person acting individually or jointly with any other person shall establish, conduct, operate or maintain an institution in this state without a license as required by this chapter, except for persons issued a license by the Commissioner of Children and Families pursuant to section 17a-145 for the operation of (1) a substance abuse treatment facility, or (2) a facility for the purpose of caring for women during pregnancies and for women and their infants following such pregnancies.
You’ll need to secure your license before you open any type of substance abuse center or drug rehab in Connecticut.
All “Private, Freestanding” Addiction Treatment Facilities in Connecticut are Referred to as “SAs”
Connecticut’s state government refers to addiction treatment facilities as “Facilities for the Care or Treatment of Substance Abusive Persons” or “SA” for short. When you’re researching the process on Connecticut’s somewhat convoluted state website, it can be helpful to know the various ways Connecticut refers to addiction treatment centers.
If you see the acronym “SA” on any website associated with the Connecticut Department of Public Health or their Facility Licensing and Investigations Section (FLIS), you can be sure it represents addiction treatment centers.
You’ll Need to Register With eLicense to Begin (and Complete) Your Addiction Treatment Center Licensing Application in Connecticut
Connecticut uses an online portal for all addiction treatment center licensing. You’ll need to create an account with this portal, called eLicense, before you can begin your application for licensing. You can register for an eLicense account with eLicense here.
Connecticut Doesn’t Have Step-By-Step Instruction for Current Addiction Treatment Center Licensing Available Online
The state’s website is helpful, but incomplete. Unlike other states, Connecticut doesn’t have an easy checklist or flowchart describing the addiction treatment center licensing process.
Instead, the state directs would-be center operators to contact specific state workers who can help answer questions about the process. For “SA” operators, AKA addiction treatment center operators, the contact person is Timothy Allen. If your question concerns regulations for addiction treatment centers in Connecticut, you can contact Alice Martinez.
After You’ve Completed Your eLicensing Forms, Connecticut Has More Forms to Complete for Addiction Treatment Center Licensing Applications
Addiction treatment center state licensing is all in the paperwork. Some of the forms you’ll be required to complete outside the eLicensing portal include:
We Can Help Your Addiction Treatment Center Get Started in Connecticut
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Our all-in-one app puts clinical, administration, staff, admissions, alumni, residents, treatment plans, billing, insurance authorizations and more - all at your fingertips.
Get your free trial started today and see why more addiction treatment centers prefer Behave Health.
Need help with certification? Behave Health can also help direct you to the right resources for help with Licensing or Accreditation by either The Joint Commission or CARF. Mention to your product specialist that you’re interested in this service after you start your free trial!