Medical Spa Laws and Requirements in Colorado Springs

In Colorado, medical spas are considered medical facilities, with regulations centered on the delegation of aesthetic services to unlicensed staff. Since compliance is fundamental to your clinic's security and success, we created this guide to explain the specific rules for operating a medical spa in Colorado Springs.

How Medical Spa Laws Work in Colorado Springs

Unlike traditional day spas, medical spas are considered medical facilities because they offer aesthetic medical procedures. This distinction is crucial, as it subjects med spas to stricter rules and regulations to ensure patient safety, a common theme across the varied med spa laws by state. Understanding these local rules is the first step for anyone asking who can own a med spa in Colorado.

The primary governing body for these operations is the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners, which sets guidelines for delegating medical tasks. A recent Colorado law builds on these rules, adding specific disclosure requirements to improve transparency and med spa compliance. Adhering to these medical spa laws in Colorado Springs is fundamental to operating a successful practice.

Medical Spa Requirements in Colorado Springs

To maintain med spa compliance in Colorado Springs, you must adhere to several key requirements centered on supervision, documentation, and transparency. The state's med spa regulations require proper medical director oversight, especially for non-physician owners, and a solid legal structure. Furthermore, a recent Colorado law mandates specific disclosures for any services delegated to unlicensed staff, impacting everything from your website to patient consent forms. Understanding these medical spa requirements in Colorado Springs is fundamental to protecting your practice and ensuring its success.

Medical Spa Ownership & Business Structure Requirements in Colorado Springs

Medical spa ownership laws in Colorado Springs are guided by the state's Corporate Practice of Medicine (CPOM) doctrine. This legal principle generally means that a medical practice, including a med spa, must be owned by a licensed physician. Operating outside these rules and regulations can result in significant legal and financial consequences for your practice.

For those asking who can own a med spa if they are not a physician, a Management Services Organization (MSO) offers a compliant solution. This structure allows a non-physician to own and manage the business operations of the clinic through the MSO. The clinical services, however, remain under the ownership and control of a separate, physician-owned professional entity to maintain med spa compliance.

A medical director is required if your med spa is not owned by a physician who is on-site daily. This director must be a licensed M.D. or D.O. responsible for providing proper supervision and overseeing all aesthetic professionals. Establishing clear contracts and protocols is essential to define this relationship and meet the medical spa requirements in Colorado Springs.

Facility, Licensing, and Compliance Requirements in Colorado Springs

While specific city-level business license or facility permit requirements are not detailed in state-level guidance, the foundation of med spa regulations in Colorado Springs is proper medical licensure. To open a med spa, you must operate under the license of a physician, either as the owner or through a designated medical director. This structure is a critical component of med spa compliance and answers the question of who can open a med spa in the state.

Operational rules focus heavily on transparency, especially when delegating services. New advertising rules require your website and all marketing materials to disclose that services are delegated, including the supervising practitioner's name and license number. For recordkeeping, you must retain signed patient consent forms acknowledging this delegation for at least seven years.

Beyond aesthetic-specific rules, you must also adhere to broader healthcare standards for safety and privacy. This includes following established protocols for infection control, OSHA, and HIPAA to protect both your staff and patients. Adhering to these comprehensive medical spa requirements in Colorado Springs is essential for long-term success and risk management.

Who Can Perform Medical Spa Procedures in Colorado Springs?

In Colorado, aesthetic procedures like injectables and laser treatments are considered medical acts, which dictates who can perform them under state med spa regulations. This means physicians (MDs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are authorized to perform these services or delegate them according to specific rules. Understanding this framework is a core part of the medical spa requirements in Colorado Springs.

The state allows physicians and APRNs to delegate certain medical-aesthetic tasks to unlicensed individuals, such as medical assistants, under the Board of Medical Examiners' guidelines. A recent law adds strict transparency rules, requiring practices to disclose this delegation on websites, in advertising, and through patient consent. These medical spa laws in Colorado Springs are designed to ensure patient safety and awareness.

While specific regulations for who can inject Botox in Colorado Springs or perform laser treatments are not explicitly defined for every provider type, licensed professionals like registered nurses (RNs) and physician assistants (PAs) typically operate under the supervision of a medical director. The required level of supervision and the structure of collaborative agreements are critical for med spa compliance. Ensuring all staff have appropriate training and certification is fundamental to protecting your practice and meeting state requirements.

Laser & Energy Device Regulations in Colorado Springs

Colorado’s med spa regulations do not provide specific definitions for lasers, IPL, or other energy devices, nor do they outline unique rules for each modality. However, the use of these devices is considered a medical procedure, subjecting them to the general medical spa laws in Colorado Springs. This means that all rules regarding delegation and supervision apply, making robust internal protocols essential for med spa compliance.

While the state has no explicit training or registration requirements for laser technicians, physicians and APRNs may delegate these procedures under their supervision. A medical director must oversee these services, and ensuring staff have appropriate training is a critical component of the medical spa requirements in Colorado Springs. If these tasks are delegated to unlicensed staff, your practice must adhere to the new transparency rules requiring disclosure in advertising and patient consent forms, as mandated by a recent law.

Medical Spa Enforcement, Penalties & Risk Management in Colorado Springs

Failing to adhere to the medical spa Laws in Colorado Springs can lead to serious consequences that jeopardize your practice and professional licenses. The Colorado Board of Medical Examiners actively enforces these rules to protect public safety, making med spa compliance a critical part of your risk management strategy. Understanding the potential penalties and common pitfalls is the first step toward building a secure and resilient clinic.

Violations of state med spa regulations can trigger several enforcement actions. These may include cease-and-desist orders, significant fines, and disciplinary action against the licenses of supervising physicians or other practitioners. In cases involving the unlicensed practice of medicine—often related to questions of who can own a med spa—the consequences can be particularly severe. Here are some of the most frequent missteps that lead to penalties:

• Improper delegation of medical procedures without the required supervision
• Advertising that fails to meet transparency rules, such as not disclosing delegated services
• Violating the Corporate Practice of Medicine doctrine through an incorrect business structure
• Inadequate documentation, including patient consent forms and supervision protocols

Proactive risk management is the best defense against these issues. By implementing clear internal policies, you can ensure you meet all medical spa requirements in Colorado Springs and operate with confidence. To help you stay compliant, we recommend focusing on these key practices:

• Conduct regular internal audits to review your protocols against current med spa regulations
• Invest in continuous staff training on delegation, safety, and documentation standards
• Maintain meticulous records for everything from patient consent to medical director agreements
• Ensure all marketing materials and your website are fully transparent about who performs procedures

Stay Compliant with Portrait Care in Colorado Springs

Operating a compliant medical spa in Colorado Springs comes down to a few core principles: establishing a proper business structure that respects the Corporate Practice of Medicine doctrine, ensuring correct supervision by a medical director, and maintaining complete transparency in how you delegate services. From your advertising to your patient consent forms, every step must align with the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners' rules to protect your practice and your patients.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We strongly encourage you to consult with a qualified healthcare attorney to address your specific circumstances.

Building a practice on a solid legal foundation is the first step toward long-term success. You can learn more about opening a compliant med spa with our detailed resources. For a closer look at how our all-in-one platform provides the technology and support to help you run a safer, more efficient clinic, schedule a demo with our team today.