Does a addiction medicine / mat clinic in Iowa need a medical director?

Q: Does a addiction medicine / mat clinic in Iowa need a medical director?

Yes. The rule calls the role Medical Director. Physician — 42 CFR § 8.12(b)(1) requires the program to 'formally designate a program sponsor and medical director.'

💊 Addiction Medicine / MAT Clinic · Iowa

Iowa: medical director for a addiction medicine / mat clinic

Whether Iowa requires a physician medical director for a addiction medicine / mat clinic, the qualifications, duties and the rule it comes from.

Medical directorMedical director required

Title in the ruleMedical Director

Research date2026-09-03

Qualifications

Physician — 42 CFR § 8.12(b)(1) requires the program to 'formally designate a program sponsor and medical director.'

Duties the rule assigns

Assume responsibility for all medical and behavioral health services performed by the OTP (§8.12(b)(2))
Ensure the OTP complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations (§8.12(b)(2))
Make/approve take-home medication eligibility determinations (§8.12(i)(2))

Notes

FEDERAL requirement (42 CFR Part 8, SAMHSA) applying to any certified Opioid Treatment Program (methadone/OTP clinic) regardless of state. Iowa Code Ch. 125 (Substance-Related Disorders) was read directly in full — it uses 'medical director' only once, defining a hospital's 'chief medical officer' for involuntary-commitment purposes, not as an SUD-treatment-program licensure requirement. A state-level echo may exist in 641 IAC Ch. 155 (not independently verified here).

Sources (2)

Every agreement Iowa names · Addiction Medicine / MAT Clinic in other states