Written by Angela Bonaguidi, LCSW, LAC, MAC – Chair of the Colorado Chapter COTOD
Colorado Medical Director Rule Effective March 2021, a new rule requiring Colorado Opioid Treatment Programs to have medical directors on premises 40% of the time that the program administers or dispenses medication was implemented. In accordance with legislative declaration and the mandates of the Colorado Administrative Procedure ACT, AATOD’s Colorado chapter (COTOD) formally requested reconsideration and amendment of the rule.
The surprising regulation will undoubtedly increase the cost of providing services and ultimately reduce the availability of coverage (particularly in rural areas) without providing improvement in services. Federal guidelines on medical director oversight are reasonable and sufficient; therefore most states do not have regulations on the physical presence of medical directors. COTOD is actively working with the state and is optimistic that the Colorado lawmakers recognize the rule’s destructive influence on OTP services and will create an amendment.
