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ASAM Criteria Updates for Adult Substance Use Services (IB24-2)

Date: 01/31/24

Louisiana Healthcare Connections is sharing with providers an update to the ASAM Criteria Updates for Adult Substance Use Services (IB 24-2). On January 31, 2024, the Louisiana Department of Health shared revisions to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) standards of care around criteria for treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions.

Revisions included in this update will require numerous changes to Louisiana documents, inclusive of the Medicaid State Plan, Behavioral Health Service Providers licensing rule, and the Medicaid Behavioral Health Services Provider Manual. The Office of Behavioral Health is working to align rules, regulations and policies to Volume 1 of The ASAM Criteria – 4th Edition for adults and is partnering with the Medicaid managed care organizations (MCO) to plan for operational implementation of the updated criteria.

Following approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the needed State Plan Amendment (SPA) and promulgation of required rules, the Behavioral Health Services Provider Manual will be revised to include ASAM’s updated criteria. These revisions will occur during calendar year 2024, and the revisions will require operational changes at the MCO and the provider levels. Providers will be kept informed about the status of approvals and revisions as they are finalized via updates to this Informational Bulletin. Pending CMS approval and the publication of rules and the Medicaid Behavioral Health Services Provider Manual revisions, the anticipated effective date for providers to come into compliance is January 1, 2025.

A few revisions included in the 4th Edition:

  • Updated Assessment & Treatment Planning Standards
  • Harm Reduction Reflected as Part of Individualized Care
  • Support for Broad Access to Addiction Medications
  • Updated the Continuum of Care
  • Risk Ratings & Dimensional Admission Criteria
  • Readiness to Change/New Dimension 6
  • New Terminology
  • New Chapters

Provider are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the revisions included in The ASAM Criteria - 4th Edition for planning and preparation purposed. Criteria is available for purchase in both print and digital versions.