Narcotic Treatment Programs

Narcotic treatment programs, also known as Opioid Treatment Programs or Opioid Treatment Centers, are specialized medical clinics that provide medications and behavioral health therapies to treat patients with a narcotic or opioid dependency. Patients are prescribed maintenance or medically supervised withdrawal doses of methadone or buprenorphine.

Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 466 establishes the state licensing requirements for NTPs. Under state law, HHSC is responsible for the licensing and regulation of NTPs in Texas, and the Regulatory Services Division within HHSC carries out these duties.

HHSC adopts rules for NTPs including establishing standards for:

• Licensing procedures and fees
• License denial, suspension, and revocation
• Ensuring the proper use of approved narcotic drugs in the treatment of persons with a narcotic drug dependency
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Coordinating narcotic drug treatment program approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration
• Operational and clinical requirements
• Inspection, investigation, and enforcement procedures
• Design, construction, fire prevention, and safety requirements

HHSC maintains a confidential central registry of NTP patients to prevent multiple clinic enrollment. HHSC answers stakeholder questions, provides information about NTPs and assists patients in locating a clinic in their area.

Communications

• Texas Opioid Treatment Programs Medication Take-Home Flexibilities Letter of Concurrence (PDF)
• Statewide Opioid Treatment Authority (SOTA) Letter (PDF)

Laws and Rules

Texas Laws

• Health and Safety Code Chapter 466

Rules and Regulations

• Texas Administrative Code Title 25 Part 1, Chapter 229, Subchapter J
• Texas Administrative Code Title 25 Part 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter B, Formal Hearing Procedures, Sections 1.21, 1.23, 1.25 and 1.27
• Federal Regulations:
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 42 Chapter I, Subchapter A, Part 8, Subpart C, Certification and Treatment Standards for Opioid Treatment Programs
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 42 Chapter I, Subchapter A, Part 2, Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Chapter II, Part 1301, Registration of Manufacturers, Distributors, and Dispensers of Controlled Substances
  • Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Chapter II, Part 1304, Records and Reports of Registrants
• US Department of Health and Human Services - Health Information Privacy and HIPAA Information
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996

Find or Verify a Licensee

• Verify a facility license by searching the Online Licensing System
• View the Directory of Narcotic Treatment Clinics (Excel).

Licensing

An applicant seeking an NTP license must submit a completed application, license fee, and other applicable documents to HHSC. The Health Facility Licensing Unit will not process an application until after HHSC Accounts Receivable receives and posts the license fee.

Refer to the application linked in this section for specific requirements.

HHSC must review and approve all required application materials received before issuing a license to an applicant.

Initial Licensure Application

• Form 3203, Narcotic Treatment Program Application

Once the applicant completes and submits Form 3203 and all required fees, the applicant must also complete the following before HHSC will consider a license application:

• Apply for and obtain SAMHSA certification
• Apply for and obtain a site registration from DEA/Diversion Control

Renewal Licensure Application

• Form 3203, Narcotic Treatment Program Application

Substance Use Disorder Compliance Forms

• Form 3222, Confidentiality of Patient Records

Complaint and Incident Submission Information

• Incidents Submission Portal for Health Care Regulation Providers
• File a Complaint for a Health Facility

Inspection Components

HHSC conducts health compliance on-site inspections to determine compliance with the provisions of the Health and Safety Code and associated rules and federal regulations listed in the Laws and Rules section of this page.

In accordance with Texas Administrative Code Title 25 Section 229.149, HHSC may enter and inspect an NTP (that is either licensed or has a licensure application pending HHSC approval) at any reasonable time without prior notification to determine compliance. During the inspection, HHSC staff generally perform the following activities:

• Conduct an entrance and an exit conference with applicable facility personnel
• Explain the inspection process and answer questions
• Review clinical records
• Review facility and personnel records
• Review facility policies and procedures
• Review quality assurance activities
• Observe patient dosing
• Interview staff
• Assess the facility's compliance with applicable statutes and rules
• Discuss final inspection findings with applicable facility personnel

Enforcement Administrative Penalties Matrices

• Narcotic Treatment Centers & Chemical Dependency Treatment Facilities Administrative Penalties Matrices (PDF)

Enforcement Actions

• Narcotic Treatment Programs Enforcement Actions (PDF)

Human Trafficking Resources

• HHSC Texas Human Trafficking Resource Center

Contact Information

Health Care Regulation Contact Information

For Health Care Regulation contact information, visit our Contact Us page.

Health Care Facility Enforcement

Phone: 512-438-5439 
Fax: 512-438-3697 
Email: Health.Facilities.Enforcement@hhsc.state.tx.us 
Mailing Address: 
Texas Health and Human Services Commission 
Regulatory Services Division 
Health Care Facility Enforcement, MC 1866 
P.O. Box 149347 
Austin, TX 78714-9347

Open Records Requests

Texas Health and Human Services is committed to providing full access to public information. Open Records Policy and Procedures has information on how to submit an open records request.