Opioid Treatment Program

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) and use medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole patient” approach to individuals diagnosed with OUD.

Medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD)

There are three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat OUD.

  • Methadone – reduces opioid cravings and withdrawal and blunts or blocks the effects of opioids.
  • Naltrexone – blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids and prevents feelings of euphoria.
  • Buprenorphine – suppresses and reduces cravings for opioids.
OTP Licensing and Accreditation

OTPs are clinics licensed by the Department of Health and federally accredited to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services.

Find an OTP
  • OTP Directory – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). List of all certified OTPs by state.
  • DOH BHA Directory (PDF) – List of all BHAs and OTPs licensed in Washington state. Includes services each one is certified to provide along with contact information.
  • DOH Facility Search – search for OTPs licensed by the Department of Health
Critical Incident and OTP Death Reporting

Critical Incident Reporting Requirements. Includes instructions and forms to report critical incidents as well as deaths of individuals enrolled in an OTP.

Change of Program Sponsor or Medical Director

Under WAC 246-341-1000(7), “an agency providing opioid treatment program services must ensure that notification to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the department is made within three weeks of any replacement or other change in the status of the program, program sponsor as defined in 42 C.F.R. Part 8, or medical director.

Notification of changes must be sent by the OTP Program administrator to DOH HSQA Facilities Credentialing with a "cc" to the Facilities Program Manager (michelle.weatherly@doh.wa.gov).

Include the following information in your notification:

  • A brief description of the change, including the agency credential number along with the name, title, phone, and email of the new program sponsor or medical director.
  • Notification for change of medical director must also include their Washington State medical license number.

SAMHSA notification – instructions on how to notify SAMHSA are online.

Change of Program Administrator

Within 30 days of the new administrator’s appointment, send an amended behavioral health agency application (PDF), copy of the disclosure statement and report of findings from a background check of the new administrator completed within the previous three months of the application date to: 

Department of Health
Behavioral Health Agencies
P.O. Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7877

File a Complaint

Anyone may submit a report to the department of an alleged violation of licensing and certification laws and rules.

Policy and Interpretive Statements 

The Department of Health (department) released a policy statement (PDF) clarifying the department’s position regarding the enforcement of certain Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) licensing and certification requirements due to changes in the federal regulations related to OTP certification and standards for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) under 42 CFR Part 8. 

Drugs that May be Ordered, Possessed, and Used by an OTP (PDF)

SAMHSA advisory letter to OTP providers regarding syphilis

Laws and Regulations

Washington state regulations

Washington state laws

  • RCW 71.24.560 – Opioid Treatment Programs – Pregnant Individuals – Information and education.
  • RCW 71.24.585 – Opioid and substance use disorder treatment – State response.
  • RCW 71.24.587 – Opioid use disorder treatment – Possession or use of lawfully prescribed medication – Declaration by state.
  • RCW 71.24.589 – Substance use disorders – Law enforcement assisted diversion – Pilot project.
  • RCW 71.24.590 – Opioid treatment – Program licensing or certification by department, department duties – Use of medications by program – Definition.
  • RCW 71.24.593 – Opioid use disorder treatment – Care of individuals and their newborns – Authority recommendations required.
  • RCW 71.24.594 – Opioid overdose reversal medications – Education – Distribution – Labeling – Liability (Effective January 1, 2022).
  • RCW 71.24.595 – Statewide treatment and operating standards for opioid treatment programs – Evaluation and report.
  • RCW 71.24.597 – Opioid overdose reversal medication – Coordinated purchasing and distribution.

Federal regulations and guidance

Contact information

Questions about OTP licensing and certification regulations
Email our program manager
Facilities program manager
Phone: 360-236-2992

Questions about the drug other controlled substance registration: WSPQAC@doh.wa.gov

Questions about application status: HSQAFC@doh.wa.gov 

Questions about the DEA approval process: Seattle.diversion@dea.gov