In 2017 alone, nearly 20 million US citizens aged 12 and older reported struggling with an addiction. Even more alarmingly, one in eight adults reported dealing with an alcohol and drug abuse problem in the same year.
The US has never been more in need of rehabilitation centers. That’s why, if you’re wondering how to start an alcohol or drug rehab center, we want to lend you a hand.
Today, we’re guiding you through the process of opening your very own alcohol or drug rehab facility.
Table of Contents
Step 1: What Kind of Addiction Treatment Facility Do You Want to Open?
There are a few different types of rehab centers out there.
The first is a full-continuum rehab facility. In these treatment centers, patients can do everything from detox, live, attend outpatient programs, and patient hospitalization programs (PHPs).
An Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) facility is different. At these facilities, patients are in need of neither detoxing services nor round-the-clock supervision. Patients can live at home during treatment at an IOP.
Step 2: Getting Your Drug Rehab Center Licensed
Regardless of the type of rehab center you want to open, you must receive a license.
To get started, contact your local licensing authority. They’ll detail the steps you need to take and hoops you’ll have to jump through to qualify for licensure.
Keep in mind that you’ll also have to adhere to zoning laws. This only applies to full-continuum rehab centers and other facilities where patients live. For these residential programs, your facility must exist within a commercial zone.
Step 3: Hiring and Training Your Staff
Once you’ve applied and been approved for your business licenses, you’ll need to hire and train employees.
At the very least, you need skilled medical staff to work with the patients. Plus, you’ll need administrators to handle patient paperwork.
Other employees you may need include executive directors to run your facility and caseworkers to follow up with patients. Residential centers will need janitorial workers to keep living conditions up to standards.
A final consideration is your marketing staff. Learn more about what you need for successful drug rehab marketing here:
https://www.kickdigitalmedia.com/7-key-components-of-drug-rehab-marketing/
Step 4: Applying for Insurance Accreditation
Insurance accreditations mean your facility can accept insurance payments from patients. If you plan to run a rehab center for out-of-pocket patients only, you can skip this step. But if you plan to serve low-income or elderly populations, this is a must.
CARF and the Joint Commission are both accrediting institutions. Getting their approval is often required to start offering rehabilitation services. But getting their approval is definitely required to get paid for your services.
Open a Drug Rehab Facility Today!
As long as you follow these 4 steps, you’ll be on your way to opening the drug rehab center you’ve always wanted to. And the people in your area will thank you.
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