A person may not operate certain substance use disorder treatment programs without first getting a written license from the department, subject to listed exceptions.
1. a. Except as provided in subsection 2, a person shall not maintain or conduct any chemical substitutes or antagonists program, residential program, or nonresidential outpatient program, the primary purpose of which is the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with a substance use disorder without having first obtained a written license for the program from the department. b. Four types of licenses may be issued by the department. A renewable license may be issued for one, two, or three years. A treatment program applying for its initial license may be issued a license for two hundred seventy days. A license issued for two hundred seventy days shall not be renewed or extended. 2. The licensing requirements of this chapter do not apply to any of the following: a. A hospital providing care or treatment to persons with a substance use disorder licensed under chapter 135B which is accredited by the joint commission, the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities, the American osteopathic association, or another recognized organization approved by the department. All survey reports from the accrediting or licensing body must be sent to the department. b. Any practitioner of medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery, in the practitioner’s private practice. However, a program shall not be exempted from licensing by the department by virtue of its utilization of the services of a medical practitioner in its operation. c. Private institutions conducted by and for persons who adhere to the faith of any well recognized church or religious denomination for the purpose of providing care, treatment, counseling, or rehabilitation to persons with a substance use disorder and who rely solely on prayer or other spiritual means for healing in the practice of religion of such church or denomination. d. A program that provides only education, prevention, referral, or post treatment services. e. Alcoholics anonymous. f. Individuals in private practice who are providing substance use disorder treatment services independent from a program that is required to be licensed under subsection 1. g. Intervention and referral programs which are financed and managed by a county or counties, are staffed by county employees, and do not receive state payments pursuant to a contract under section 125.44. h. Voluntary, nonprofit groups whose funding is provided solely from nontax sources. i. A substance use disorder treatment program not funded by the department which is accredited or licensed by the joint commission, the commission on the accreditation of rehabilitation facilities, the American osteopathic association, or another recognized organization approved by the department. All survey reports from the accrediting or licensing body must be sent to the department. j. A hospital substance use disorder treatment program that is accredited or licensed by the joint commission, the commission on the accreditation of rehabilitation facilities, the American osteopathic association, or another recognized organization approved by the department. All survey reports for the hospital substance use disorder treatment program from the accrediting or licensing body shall be sent to the department. k. A psychiatric medical institution for children licensed under chapter 135H, unless the psychiatric medical institution for children provides substance use disorder services. [C75, 77, §125.14, 224B.12, 224B.13; C79, 81, §125.13; 81 Acts, ch 58, §4 – 7; 82 Acts, ch 1244, §1, 2] 86 Acts, ch 1001, §4; 89 Acts, ch 243, §2; 90 Acts, ch 1085, §6, 7; 94 Acts, ch 1068, §1; 2002 Acts, ch 1108, §4, 5; 2005 Acts, ch 175, §66; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §263; 2011 Acts, ch 121, §32, 33, 62; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §85, 86; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §377; 2024 Acts, ch 1182, §143; 2025 Acts, ch 86, §1, 48 Referred to in §125.2, 125.20, 125.21, 135H.4 Subsection 2, paragraphs a, i, and j amended Subsection 2, NEW paragraph k