Kentucky pilots wide ASAM‑4 training program and sets July 1, 2025 transition date
June 29, 2026 | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Executive, Federal
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Kentucky officials told a CMS webinar that the Commonwealth will transition to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria 4th edition on July 1, 2025, and that the state is emphasizing training and evaluation to support providers across its integrated system.
"We are very proud here with our Team Kentucky that we are such an integrated state," said Dr. Leslie Hoffman, deputy commissioner for the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services (DMS), describing DMS’s close collaboration with the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities and managed care organizations.
Hoffman said Kentucky’s SUD Section 1115 demonstration began in 2018 and that existing regulatory language allowed the state to align with the most recent ASAM guidance as it became available. Kentucky set its ASAM 4 Medicaid transition date for July 1, 2025 and is using phased training and technical assistance to prepare providers.
Sarah Johnson, director of the Division for Substance Use Disorder at Kentucky’s Department for Behavioral Health, said Kentucky partnered with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (ASAM’s national training partner) to develop a three‑phase training model: Phase 1 for leadership and system-level alignment, Phase 2 for clinicians with deep dives into assessment and level‑of‑care decisions, and Phase 3 for advanced application using complex case scenarios. The state capped sessions at roughly 50 participants; phase‑one planning included 19 sessions and Kentucky reported approximately 500 providers trained to date with more sessions scheduled.
Kentucky described pre‑ and post‑training evaluations developed with Hazelden showing improved participant knowledge, increased confidence applying the ASAM framework, better level‑of‑care placements, and stronger documentation practices. Officials said they are developing additional modules (for adolescents, forensics, and paraprofessionals) and coordinating with managed‑care plans and other partners to expand capacity and reach.
Next steps: Kentucky will continue training expansion, develop focused modules for youth and justice‑involved populations, and work with payers and clinical leaders to maintain fidelity and consistency in ASAM application across the Commonwealth.
"We are very proud here with our Team Kentucky that we are such an integrated state," said Dr. Leslie Hoffman, deputy commissioner for the Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services (DMS), describing DMS’s close collaboration with the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities and managed care organizations.
Hoffman said Kentucky’s SUD Section 1115 demonstration began in 2018 and that existing regulatory language allowed the state to align with the most recent ASAM guidance as it became available. Kentucky set its ASAM 4 Medicaid transition date for July 1, 2025 and is using phased training and technical assistance to prepare providers.
Sarah Johnson, director of the Division for Substance Use Disorder at Kentucky’s Department for Behavioral Health, said Kentucky partnered with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (ASAM’s national training partner) to develop a three‑phase training model: Phase 1 for leadership and system-level alignment, Phase 2 for clinicians with deep dives into assessment and level‑of‑care decisions, and Phase 3 for advanced application using complex case scenarios. The state capped sessions at roughly 50 participants; phase‑one planning included 19 sessions and Kentucky reported approximately 500 providers trained to date with more sessions scheduled.
Kentucky described pre‑ and post‑training evaluations developed with Hazelden showing improved participant knowledge, increased confidence applying the ASAM framework, better level‑of‑care placements, and stronger documentation practices. Officials said they are developing additional modules (for adolescents, forensics, and paraprofessionals) and coordinating with managed‑care plans and other partners to expand capacity and reach.
Next steps: Kentucky will continue training expansion, develop focused modules for youth and justice‑involved populations, and work with payers and clinical leaders to maintain fidelity and consistency in ASAM application across the Commonwealth.
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