Facilities previously licensed as Mental Health Centers or as Substance Abuse Treatment Centers are no longer licensed separately. As of July 19, 2018, these two types of licenses have merged into one, called Mental Health Substance Use Treatment Centers.
A Mental Health Substance Abuse Treatment Center provides shelter, food, counseling, supervision, diagnosis and treatment, and other assistance for individuals living at the facility for more than 24 consecutive hours. Individuals admitted to live at the facility have a mental illness, a substance use disorder, or both.
Licensing does not apply to:
- Self-run programs: Any place that does not provide minimum supervision of client's personal care, activities of daily living or health maintenance of clients.
- Self-run programs in which persons who are substance abusers provide mutual support and encouragement to avoid substance abuse.
- Residential self-help programs run for their own benefit by persons who are substance abusers.
- Services provided by licensed professionals in private practice caring for clients under their own license.
A facility may choose to provide services for mental illness disorders, for substance use disorders, or for both mental illness and substance use disorders.
- A license issued to provide services for mental health disorders permits the facility to treat persons whose primary need is treatment for mental health disorders.
- A license issued to provide services for substance use disorders permits the facility to treat persons whose primary need is treatment for substance use disorders.
- A license issued to provide services for both mental health and substance use disorders permits the facility to treat persons with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, or both mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
Outpatient Services
DHHS no longer licenses Substance Abuse Treatment Centers that provide outpatient services. The facility may still provide treatment; however, no license is required. The license status in our online
License Lookup will say “closed."
Regulations
The Mental Health Center regulations apply if the facility is providing service for mental illness (175 NAC 19). Substance Abuse Treatment Center regulations apply if the facility is providing services for substance use disorders (residential only) (175 NAC 18). Both regulations apply if providing both services.
Applications, Requirements & Fees
Initial License:
To apply for a Mental Health Substance Use Treatment Center license, you must meet the requirements in the regulations for the services you are providing:
Contact the Licensure Unit for an initial license application. You will need to submit the completed application, required documentation listed in the regulations, and the licensing fee.
NOTE: The facility cannot operate until completion of an onsite inspection and the Licensure Unit has issued a license.
A change in facility location or ownership voids the license and requires a new license before providing services.
Adding Services:
An approved provider may add a service via an application. An onsite inspection is required before the additional services can be provided.
License Renewal
If the facility provides services for:
- Substance use disorders, licenses expire September 30th each year.
- Mental illness, licenses expire February 28th each year.
- Both services, licenses expire September 30th each year.
Duplicate License
To obtain a duplicate or reissued license, submit a request in writing or use the duplicate license form. There is a $10 fee for each duplicate license requested.
Fees
1. Initial and renewal licensing fees:
- 1-16 beds: $250
- 17-50 beds: $275
- 51 or more beds: $300
2. Refunds for denied applications:
- If no inspection was conducted, the license fee minus a $25 administrative fee will be refunded.
- If the Department performed an inspection, the fee is not refunded.
Within five working days, notify the Licensure Unit in writing of a change in:
- Ownership - A new application is required.
- Location - A new application is required.
- Facility name
- Facility administrator
Also notify the Licensure Unit in writing at least 30 working days prior to the date of an increase or decrease in the number of licensed beds.
The unit should be notified of new construction or remodeling prior to start of work. See
construction website.
The Licensure Unit inspects Mental Health Substance Use Treatment Centers before issuing a license and routinely after that to be sure the facility meets the requirements in the regulations.
Types of Inspections:
-
Initial: Takes place onsite within 30 working days of receiving a completed application. The facility should be furnished and ready to operate.
-
Compliance: An unannounced onsite inspection of a licensed facility that can occur at any time.
Contact