What should I ask a rehab's admissions office before saying yes?
From the RecoveryHome team. We write some questions from situations people often ask us about, and answer them with general information from public health sources. Been through this yourself? Your answer could help the next person who finds this page. How we write team posts
RH
RecoveryHome team Team
asked 3 months ago
Families often have two or three programs that take their insurance, and on the phone they all sound the same. Which questions actually separate a good program from a slick sales pitch?
RH
RecoveryHome team Team
answered 7 days ago · general information, not medical advice
Ask these, and ask for the answers in writing where you can:
- Are you licensed in this state, and what accreditation do you hold? Look for Joint Commission or CARF accreditation, and check the license with your state.
- Who provides the care? How many licensed clinicians are on staff, and what's the staff-to-client ratio?
- Do you offer or support medication treatment? For opioid use disorder especially, medication is the standard of care. A program that's against it is a red flag.
- What does a typical day look like?
- How are families involved?
- Who handles insurance reviews, and what happens if coverage ends early?
- What is the full cost, including labs and medications?
Red flags: guaranteed outcomes, pressure to decide or travel tonight, offers of free flights or free housing, vague answers about who owns the program, and dismissing medication instead of discussing it. Good programs sound calm. Sales operations sound urgent.
Read more: Choosing a quality rehab · Red flags in a treatment center
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