The Importance of Accreditation

Accreditation is an important piece of the behavioral health industry puzzle.  Treatment Centers should seek accreditation as soon as they can for many reasons.  While most insurance payers don’t require Treatment Centers to be accredited, some payers have already made the shift to requiring accreditation before they will pay for the service rendered.  Treatment Centers can choose accreditation at the state level through CARF. They can also opt to become accredited through JCAHO, which is accreditation at the national level.

Editorial: Opioid overdose deaths: A national catastrophe - Chicago Tribune

…Last year, according to a preliminary estimate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 72,000 lives were lost to overdoses. That’s 197 people dying every day — more than enough to fill a Boeing 737 passenger jet. It’s an increase of more than 6 percent over 2016.

Denials:  The bane of every treatment center’s existence

Let’s face it, denials may be the absolute worst thing to find in the mail, especially if you’ve just opened.  It is discouraging and disheartening to find out you won’t be paid for someone’s treatment; even if it is only one date of service.

Verification of Benefits 101: who, what, where, when and why?

A verification of benefits is the first vital piece of admitting a patient to your facility.  If they don’t have benefits for the treatment they receive, there will be no reimbursement. There are a number of things that can be found out on a verification call; information about patient responsibility, what services are covered, etc.

To be in-network or not to be?

To be in-network or not to be?  This is a question for which many behavioral healthcare facilities struggle to find an answer.  There are so many things to consider before signing any contract, but it can be difficult to know what those things are.  Ultimately, it comes down to the choice of the facility decision-makers, but there are a few things to consider during the process of making a decision.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Level of Care: Guide for Behavioral Health ProvidersPartial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Level of Care: Guide for Behavioral Health Providers

PHP stands for Partial Hospitalization Program.  This type of care is used most in the behavioral health industry for treatment of substance abuse issues.  It is also utilized for patients with mental health disorders.