Private Drug & Alcohol Rehab: Programs & Centers Near You

What are Private Rehabilitation Programs?

Private rehabilitation programs derive funding from private sources—namely, admission fees from people who enroll. They have a financial incentive to deliver results and depend on people referring their friends and family. They tend to have vast financial resources, so they are able to offer a wide array of treatment options to patients and maintain a low staff-to-patient ratio. Costs may be higher, but, for some, the benefits are worth the expense.

Drug and alcohol rehabilitation has come a long way, and individuals now find themselves with a plethora of treatment services and options to choose for recovery.

For those seeking private rehabilitation programs, a number of facilities offer exclusive, high-quality care that spares no expense in helping the person create a new, substance-free life.

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What Are Public Rehab Programs?

Public or state-funded rehabilitation programs typically receive money through three funding streams: federal grants for substance abuse, Medicaid reimbursement, and money from state governments to provide treatment services to people who need them.¹ These facilities are generally only available to residents of that particular state, and they are intended for people who cannot cover the entire cost of treatment on their own (or who do not have sufficient insurance coverage).

In spite of the vital services offered by public rehab programs, they do come with limitations. Because they are low-cost (or even no-cost) organizations, demand for treatment often exceeds capacity so individuals may have to wait for treatment. For a person seeking immediate help for a drug or alcohol problem, this is obviously not ideal. In fact, being on a waiting list has been mentioned as a reason why some individuals give up on treatment.² However, in 2020, 81% of federal government-operated and 80% of tribal government-operated facilities offered interim services when immediate admission was not available to individuals.³

In addition, there are less public facilities. In 2020, of the 16,066 facilities nationwide, 1,527 were local, county, community, state, federal, or tribal government-operated facilities, and these centers treated 100,166 individuals.³ By comparison, in 2011, public facilities provided treatment for 160,944 individuals.

Many public facilities provide community outreach programs and offer specialized services. In 2020, for instance, 85% of tribal government-operated facilities provided community outreach programs to help those who needed treatment. In addition, 89% of federal government-operated facilities offer at least one type of pharmacotherapy treatments. And government-run facilities frequently reported that they offered services in sign language for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and treatment services in languages other than English.³

Private Rehabilitation Programs

On the other end of the spectrum are private therapy and rehabilitation programs, which make up a majority of the treatment centers in the country. In the United States, 49.8% of the treatment centers operate as private nonprofit facilities, and 40.7% function as private for-profit rehab centers.³ Patients are responsible for paying the entirety of their treatment with insurance (commercial, Medicare, or Medicaid), out-of-pocket, or a combination of the two at private facilities. Treatment runs the gamut from the more affordable care offered by nonprofits to luxury centers with lots of amenities provided by some for-profit centers.

Because funding comes from the private sector and donors, private treatment facilities can typically afford to offer a broader range of treatment options and more personalized care. Private facilities tend to have a lower staff-to-patient ratio, allowing for doctors and other personnel to give care that is individualized to patients. While there may still be waiting lists at these centers, they are typically shorter than those waiting for treatment from a public facility.

Private for-profit facilities may accept commercial insurance (77.8% accepted private health insurance in 2020), but less accept Medicare (33.7%) and Medicaid (56.1%). Private nonprofit treatment centers tend to be less expensive. More of these facilities accept Medicare (46.5%), Medicaid (81.8%), or offer sliding scale fees based on income (69.5%).³

The Importance of Location

Individuals who are being rehabilitated stand a much better chance of recovery if they can be in an environment that helps them heal and supports their mental and emotional health, too. Since there are more private treatment centers scattered throughout the United States, there’s a good chance individuals can find one nearby or in a desirable location. Private facilities, which are often in secluded areas surrounded by nature, provide settings of peace and quiet for clients to heal their bodies and souls. Some may look like resorts. Such programs may offer activities, such as outdoor recreation, yoga classes, or swimming, all pursuits that help clients physically, as well as mentally.

Public facilities, by comparison, tend to be located in heavily populated, urban areas, where there is noise and other distractions.

Money Matters: Public and Private Rehab

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), mental health and behavioral health services are essential health benefits; and therefore, every health insurance plan must cover behavior health treatment, behavioral and mental health inpatient services, and substance use disorder treatment. Coverage can’t be denied for pre-existing conditions, including mental health problems or substance use disorders, and providers can’t put yearly or lifetime dollar limits on treatment services.⁴

Public treatment programs may only offer a fixed-length inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation program (though there are some private facilities that operate on this model as well).⁵ On the other hand, private drug and alcohol treatment facilities typically let individuals receive therapy for as long as they need it—and can afford it.

Private centers may also offer additional groups and activities, including art and music activities, mindfulness programming, cooking, and exercise as part of the therapy.

Private Rehab Benefits & Amenities

Some private treatment centers might offer gourmet food options and private rooms for privacy, which may become very important when severe withdrawal symptoms—nausea, fever, muscle cramping, insomnia, and depression—peak.

The Costs of Private Rehabilitation

The costs of private drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs vary widely. There are options to help pay, including private health insurance, self pay, payment plans, financial aid, and fees based on a sliding scale, too.

In the long run, rehab is not nearly as costly as drug and alcohol addiction. Savings include fewer interpersonal conflicts, less legal issues, more workplace productivity since those who abuse alcohol and drugs tend to skip work or switch jobs more frequently (and that impacts income), and fewer drug-related accidents and health issues.⁷

Sources

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. (2000) Integrating Substance Abuse  and Vocational Services (TIP 38). 
2. Redko, Christina, Rapp, Richard C., and Carlson, Robert G. (2006). Waiting Time as a Barrier to Treatment Entry: Perceptions of Substance Users. Journal of Drug Issues, 36(4), 831-852.
3. Substance Abuse and mental Health Administration. (2020). National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services: 2020.
4. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2019). Mental health & substance abuse coverage.
5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. (2000) A Guide to Substance Abuse Services for Primary Care Clinicians (TIP 24).
6. McKay, Kames R., Ph.D. (2009). Continuing Care Research: What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Going. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 36(2), 131-145.
7. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (January 2018). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition).