Beheso provides expert consulting services to help behavioral health and addiction treatment providers achieve CLIA certification, a key requirement for facilities that conduct waived laboratory testing such as urine drug screens. Our team supports you through the full certification process—from determining eligibility and completing application forms to preparing required documentation and ensuring compliance with federal standards. With experience in both regulatory compliance and behavioral health operations, we help streamline your path to certification, minimizing delays and ensuring your testing program is aligned with CLIA regulations.
Whether you're launching a new testing program or updating your compliance status, Beheso ensures your organization is fully prepared. Our proven process helps providers avoid administrative setbacks, maintain testing integrity, and operate with confidence.
Yes—CLIA certification is required for behavioral health providers who perform any laboratory testing on human specimens, even if only waived tests like urine drug screens. Under federal law (42 CFR 493), any facility that tests materials for diagnostic or treatment purposes must obtain the appropriate CLIA certificate—usually a Certificate of Waiver (COW) for simple tests—and comply with quality, personnel, and survey standards. According to CMS guidance, behavioral health facilities conducting urine drug testing are expressly required to hold a CLIA certificate .
While exceptions exist (e.g., forensic-only labs, employment drug screens not used for treatment decisions, or certain SAMHSA-certified labs), these typically do not apply to treatment providers offering clinical services. In short, if you're a behavioral health provider running even basic lab tests, CLIA certification isn’t optional—it’s federally mandated.
CLIA certification ensures your facility complies with federal law when conducting any type of laboratory testing, including waived tests like urine drug screens. Without proper certification, providers risk fines, legal action, or losing the ability to bill insurance. CLIA helps mitigate liability and regulatory exposure by legitimizing your testing practices.
Insurance companies, referral sources, and licensing bodies often require or strongly prefer providers to maintain CLIA certification. It signals that your organization upholds national standards for quality and reliability in laboratory testing. This enhances trust among healthcare networks, payers, and clients—giving your program a competitive edge.
Even waived tests require proper procedures, documentation, and quality assurance protocols. CLIA-certified programs must follow standardized practices, reducing the chance of false positives, test misinterpretations, or result disputes. This consistency supports better clinical decision-making and protects client outcomes.
A CLIA Certificate of Waiver allows facilities to perform simple, low-risk tests. As your services grow, upgrading to a higher-level CLIA certification can open the door to moderate- or high-complexity testing in-house, offering added flexibility and potential cost savings by reducing the need to outsource labs.
CLIA certification fosters internal accountability and structured training for staff who perform or interpret tests. With clearly defined protocols in place, team members can operate confidently and consistently. This enhances overall operational quality and reduces confusion, especially across multiple facilities or during staff turnover.
Yes. Even if your facility only performs waived testing—such as point-of-care urine drug screens—a CLIA Certificate of Waiver is required by federal law. This applies to behavioral health and addiction treatment centers using test cups or dip tests onsite. Operating without a CLIA certificate, even for simple tests, can result in compliance violations and liability issues.
Most behavioral health providers only need a CLIA Certificate of Waiver, which permits the use of low-complexity tests that carry minimal risk of error. If your facility plans to conduct more advanced lab testing, such as bloodwork or diagnostic panels, you may need a Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of Accreditation, depending on the test complexity and state regulations.
The process to obtain a CLIA Certificate of Waiver typically takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on your state’s processing times. It involves completing the CMS Form 116, paying a fee (usually around $180 every two years), and implementing basic procedures for test use, documentation, and quality control. Facilities must also display the certificate onsite once approved.
Behavioral Health Solutions
5500 West Chandler Boulevard, Chandler, AZ, USA
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