New Mexico is certainly an interesting place to open an addiction treatment center.
For one, there is no shortage of demand for addiction treatment services in New Mexico. The state is facing one of the worst drug and alcohol addiction problems in the nation. New Mexico ranks 12th in the nation for drug overdoses, with a rate that hovers about 40% above the national average. Over 10% of New Mexican adults struggle with SUD. When you look at the younger adult population in the state - those between the ages of 18 and 25 - the rates are even higher. Nearly one in 6 young adults in New Mexico struggle with some form of behavioral health problem.
However, unlike other states that are suffering under the opioid crisis and the recent surge in “deaths of despair,” New Mexico has actually done a lot to increase access to treatment in its state. Still, as New Mexico has tripled its funding for addiction treatment, the problem has gotten worse, not better. Young Hispanic men, in particular, are overrepresented in overdose deaths in the state. Experts believe that the dollars need to be spent in ways that more precisely target at-risk populations and that more needs to be done for prevention in the state, as well.
In addition to surveying underserved populations and identifying holes in the treatment offerings, those looking to open an addiction treatment center in New Mexico need to be mindful of hotspots for addiction activity in the state. Case in point: Rio Arriba has the worst rates of overdose death in the state, trailed by Bernalillo County. These areas deserve special attention for anyone interested in beginning or expanding their services in New Mexico.
Today, let’s look at what goes into opening an addiction treatment center in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment.
A License is Required to Operate an Addiction Treatment Facility in New Mexico
Like most states in the US, New Mexico requires all “alcohol and drug abuse hospitals” to maintain a current license on file with the state.
In New Mexico, addiction treatment centers - both private pay facilities and Medicaid facilities - are considered “health facilities.” Unfortunately, while New Mexico has specific health facility regulations around many different types of health facilities - for example, freestanding birth centers and long term care facilities - it does not make a specific set of rules available for those seeking to open an addiction treatment center in the state. There is, however, a guide the state has created specifically tailored to those looking to open a publicly funded facility in New Mexico.
That said, many of the regulations that apply to health facilities in New Mexico apply across all categories of facility, so we can infer a lot about what is required of the addiction treatment licensing process by looking at what is required of other health facilities in the state.
You’ll Work with the New Mexico Department of Health to Get Your Addiction Treatment Center Licensed in New Mexico
In New Mexico, the New Mexico Department of Health (Or NMDOH for short) handles all health facility licensing. Note that if you are considering opening a publicly funded facility in Albuquerque that the city actually has it’s own set of rules governing addiction treatment providers there. In that case, you’ll want to be in touch with both government entities to ensure that you’re covering both sets of rules and regulations.
The Fees for Getting an Addiction Treatment Center Licensed in New Mexico are Very Reasonable
In New Mexico, addiction treatment centers - or, as the state calls them, “alcohol and drug abuse treatment hospitals” - are subject to a $12 per bed fee upon initial licensing and annual license renewal. This is fairly low compared with other rates for state licensure in the nation. Many states often have an initial application fee in addition to a per-service or per-program fee, often bundled with a “per bed” fee. In New Mexico, you only pay a single type of fee for addiction treatment center licensing.
The Step-by-Step Process for Getting an Addiction Treatment Center Licensed in New Mexico is Outlined on the State’s Website
While the addiction treatment-specific information is lacking on the state of New Mexico’s official website, you can still access the general outline for getting a health facility licensed in the state. The process begins with a letter of intent and then transitions into an application phase. The materials required of New Mexico are fairly sparse compared with the stringent requirements of other states. You must apply to the state with a policies and procedures manual and proof of a health and safety inspection. You’ll also need to supply the state with some specific documentation around the physical facility, like floor plans and other information. Again, compared with the requirements of other states, this is a very barebones process.
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