Medical Director (SUD/Detox)

Work Location: In-Person

Division/Department: Clinical

Reports to: Executive Director

Positions Supervised: Nursing, Medical Staff, Advanced Practice Providers

Employment Type: Full-time, Exempt

Purpose, Essential Duties, and Responsibilities

The Medical Director is responsible for the clinical and medical oversight of all addiction treatment services, ensuring delivery of care consistent with American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria and State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services regulations. This role ensures that all patients receive appropriate, evidence-based care across the continuum of services, including detoxification, residential, partial hospitalization (PHP), and outpatient levels of care, while maintaining patient safety, regulatory compliance, and quality outcomes.

Clinical Oversight & ASAM Compliance

• Ensure all clinical services align with ASAM Criteria, including:
  • Level of care determinations
  • Continued stay reviews
  • Discharge planning
• Oversee and approve medical necessity determinations for all admissions
• Provide medical leadership for withdrawal management (detox) services
• Ensure appropriate use and oversight of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Maintain documentation of daily physician coverage logs for detox/residential programs

Medical Director Responsibilities

• Development of admission criteria
• Development of treatment protocols
• Development of medical policies and procedures
• Ensuring the adequacy of individual treatment plans (including medication plans) developed with the participation of professional staff, including notations of contraindications and precautions
• Providing or arranging for daily medical coverage to meet patient needs
• Determination of the credentials required of other physicians working under the medical director
• Determination of the credentials required of clinicians who may prescribe pharmacotherapies
• Maintain credentialing documentation for all prescribing clinicians and medical staff
• Oversee the initial credentialing and privileging process for all physicians and prescribers, including verification of medical licenses, board certification, DEA registration, and DATA 2000 waivers
• Ensure re-credentialing and privileging occurs at least every two years, with documentation of ongoing competency and performance evaluations
• Review and approve the scope of practice and clinical privileges for all medical staff and prescribing clinicians
• Maintain all credentialing and privileging records in compliance with Joint Commission, state, and ASAM standards

Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise all medical and nursing staff, including performance management
• Provide clinical guidance to multidisciplinary teams (therapy, case management, nursing)
• Participate in recruitment, hiring, and credentialing of medical staff
• Ensure participation in staff training and education

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives
• Ensure compliance with:
  • State, Federal, and Local regulations
  • ASAM standards
• Participate in audits, surveys, and accreditation processes
• Oversee the quality of treatment provided by the programDocument QAPI review participation and outcomes
• Participate in the collection and review of clinical outcome data, including readmission rates, adverse events, and patient satisfaction metrics
• Implement corrective action plans based on QAPI findings and monitor effectiveness of interventions
• Ensure all QAPI activities are documented and tracked in compliance with Joint Commission and ASAM requirements

Program Development

• Develop and implement clinical programming across all ASAM levels of care
• Establish and maintain evidence-based protocols for:
  • Detoxification
  • Co-occurring disorders
  • Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services

Treatment Team Involvement

• Actively participate in treatment team meetings and case reviews
• Collaborate with clinical staff to ensure integrated, patient-centered care

Administrative Responsibilities

• Participate in executive leadership and policy development
• Approve clinical policies, procedures, and protocols
• Monitor utilization review and cost management initiatives

Confidentiality & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with 42 CFR Part 2 and HIPAA
• Maintain strict confidentiality of Protected Health Information (PHI)
• Report any compliance or privacy concerns per company policy

The Medical Director provides significant programmatic leadership and participates in management and quality monitoring activities.

Education Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited institution
• Board Certified or Board Eligible in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, or Addiction Psychiatry

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of clinical experience in substance use disorder (SUD) and/or co-occurring disorder treatment
• Experience in ASAM Levels of Care (e.g., 3.7, 3.5, 2.5, 2.1) strongly preferred
• Prior leadership or supervisory experience preferred

Licensure / Certification / Required Credentials

• Current, active, and unencumbered Medical License (Massachusetts)
• DEA registration (active and in good standing)
• Board certification in Addiction Medicine (e.g., ABAM/ABPM) or Psychiatry preferred
• DATA 2000 waiver (if applicable) or ability to prescribe MAT in state
• Required credentials:
  • MD or DO license
  • Board-certified in Addiction Medicine or Addiction Psychiatry (if required by state)
  • For Level 3.7 programs: if a board-certified physician is unavailable, must have ≥5 years addiction treatment experience with a mentor board-certified in Addiction Medicine/Psychiatry