Medical Director OTP

Porch Light Health is a leading provider of comprehensive care and support for individuals affected by substance use disorders. Our OTP and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinics combine evidence-based practices with a compassionate, patient-centered approach to recovery. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative environment for both patients and team members.

The Medical Director is responsible for providing clinical leadership, medical oversight, and direct patient care services within the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs. This role ensures the delivery of safe, effective, evidence-based care for individuals with substance use disorders while maintaining compliance with all applicable federal, state, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.

The Medical Director serves as a member of the leadership team and provides supervision, consultation, and guidance to medical and nursing staff. This position combines administrative leadership with direct patient care responsibilities, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, medication management, and ongoing medical monitoring of patients receiving addiction disorder treatment services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Oversight

• Provides overall medical direction and supervision of the organization's OTP and MAT services.
• Maintains responsibility for the quality, integrity, and effectiveness of medical and nursing services.
• Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, DEA, SAMHSA, CARF, and other regulatory requirements.
• Collaborates with organizational leadership to establish, implement, and evaluate medical policies, procedures, and clinical protocols.
• Provides clinical consultation and guidance to providers, nursing staff, counselors, and interdisciplinary treatment teams.
• Participates in quality assurance, utilization review, risk management, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Serves as the medical subject matter expert regarding substance use disorder treatment and evidence-based practices.

Direct Patient Care

• Conducts comprehensive medical evaluations, physical examinations, and assessments for patients seeking treatment.
• Reviews medical histories, laboratory results, toxicology reports, and other diagnostic information.
• Diagnoses and treats substance use disorders and co-occurring medical conditions within the scope of practice.
• Develops and oversees individualized treatment plans.
• Prescribes and manages medications utilized in OTP and MAT programs, including methadone, buprenorphine, and other approved medications as clinically appropriate.
• Determines patient eligibility for admission, continuation of care, transfer, and discharge from treatment services.
• Monitors patient progress and adjusts treatment plans based on clinical presentation, treatment response, toxicology results, and interdisciplinary team recommendations.
• Assesses psychiatric and behavioral health needs and facilitates referral to specialty services when appropriate.
• Provides patient education regarding treatment options, medication risks and benefits, overdose prevention, infectious diseases, and recovery support services.

OTP-Specific Responsibilities

• Oversees methadone induction, stabilization, maintenance, and medically supervised withdrawal protocols.
• Reviews and approves dosing determinations consistent with regulatory requirements and clinical best practices.
• Determines eligibility for take-home medications and approves take-home schedules in accordance with federal and state regulations.
• Ensures proper documentation and authorization of medication orders and verbal orders.
• Monitors and manages the treatment of high-risk or medically complex patients, including pregnant individuals and patients with significant medical comorbidities.
• Ensures all required medical assessments, laboratory testing, and ongoing evaluations are completed in a timely manner.

Supervision and Staff Development

• Provides clinical supervision and oversight to medical providers, nursing personnel, and other assigned staff.
• Participates in recruitment, onboarding, performance management, coaching, and professional development of medical staff.
• Promotes a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Assists with staff training related to substance use disorder treatment, MAT best practices, regulatory compliance, and clinical standards.

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintains current knowledge of applicable regulations, accreditation standards, and evidence-based treatment practices.
• Ensures all medical services are delivered in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
• Participates in audits, surveys, accreditation reviews, and regulatory inspections as needed.
• Supports corrective action planning and implementation when compliance concerns are identified.

Education, Licensure, and Experience

Required

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from an accredited institution.
• Current, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Colorado.
• Current DEA registration with authority to prescribe controlled substances.
• Minimum of five (5) years of post-residency clinical practice experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working in an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP).
• Experience supervising or leading clinical teams.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state OTP regulations, SAMHSA requirements, DEA regulations, and ASAM criteria.

Preferred

• Board Certification in Addiction Medicine, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or a related specialty.
• Additional experience providing Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services utilizing buprenorphine and other evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder.
• Experience in behavioral health, addiction treatment, or integrated care settings.
• CARF accreditation experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of substance use disorders, addiction medicine, and evidence-based treatment approaches.
• Thorough understanding of OTP operations, methadone treatment, MAT services, and recovery-oriented systems of care.
• Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, and team development skills.
• Excellent clinical judgment and decision-making abilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to patient-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism in accordance with applicable laws and ethical standards.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform clinical examinations and patient assessments.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and use standard office and medical equipment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, electronically, and by telephone.

Acknowledgement

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify duties and responsibilities as business needs require.