Government Provided Treatment
Each year approximately 22 million Americans are suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. Due to the alarming statistics that are growing every year, the government has issued a nationwide epidemic for the high levels of addiction that the country faces. Unfortunately, many people who could benefit from addiction treatment don’t have the access or resources to private treatment centers. There are, however, many government-funded treatment options that can help many of those in need receive affordable and accessible recovery treatment.
The government spends about $468 billion every year on alcohol and drug abuse-related costs, which allocates more than 10% of the government spending budget. These programs consist of detox centers, treatment centers, counseling, family assistance, information sessions, and prevention.
The goal of these government-funded programs is to increase awareness, prevention, and treatment surrounding drug and alcohol abuse. Not all treatment centers offer government-funded resources or accept subsidized payments. Therefore, knowing which options you have for government-sponsored alcohol use treatment can ensure you are encouraged to seek treatment for yourself or a loved one regardless of your economic standing.
Who is Eligible for Government Funded Alcohol Abuse Programs?
Each government-funded treatment program has its own eligibility criteria to qualify for rehab programs. To find out if you are eligible for a particular program, you will likely need to contact the program directly or speak to a government representative who oversees the substance abuse treatment centers in the state. SAMHSA has a Directory of Single State Agencies for Substance Abuse Services that is an excellent resource.
For the most part, everyone is eligible for some treatment program regardless of demographics, income, or history with drug abuse.
Benefits of Funding Treatment Centers
According to researchers, every dollar that is donated to government-funded rehabilitation centers will save four dollars in healthcare costs and $7 in law enforcement and criminal justice costs.
Studies have also shown that residential treatment services eventually lower the cost of overall healthcare. In reality, an addiction that is left untreated costs the state more money in healthcare, criminal justice, and government expenses. So, while the goal of these treatment centers is to save lives and encourage sobriety, it also benefits the state and country as a whole.
Treatment saves government resources and taxpayer money, and it results in more effective recovery; therefore, there have been a number of methods established to provide public assistance for drug and alcohol addiction prevention, treatment, and rehab.
Federal Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Options
Government officials have poured billions of dollars into their drug and alcohol awareness and treatment programs. While there was a time that only some could afford reputable detox and treatment programs, with all the efforts the federal government has given to drug and alcohol programs, almost anyone should have access to treatment.
Federal government Treatment options are offered through the national government and not by a state by state basis. These treatment options include:
Medicare/Medicaid
Medicare is a type of health insurance/coverage for low-income families, senior citizens, or other demographics that do not have access to private health insurance. Medicare works by allocating a certain amount of money to different health insurance needs, with rehab being one of them.
In many cases, Medicare will cover alternative supportive treatments as well. Depending on the plan you have, you will be allowed a certain amount of days and money worth of treatment for alcohol abuse programs. In most cases, you will not have a deductible or need to make a payment of any kind at the time of your treatment. You can easily research what centers take Medicare/Medicaid by searching through the government’s online portal or calling a local representative.
Veterans Administration Benefits
Retired and active veterans have access to a whole host of health care benefits, and the government works hard to ensure they receive whatever care they need. Serving in the military can cause a lot of emotional and physical damage, and many veterans turn to alcohol to cope. The Veterans Administration (VA) offers everything from detox to inpatient long term residential treatment. Programs vary in length, intensity, and schedule to accommodate everyone and their specific needs.
According to the VA website, the services provided may include
- Screening for alcohol or tobacco use.
- Short-term outpatient counseling to build motivation to change.
- Intensive outpatient treatment.
- Residential care.
- Detox and follow up support
- Counseling services individuals, families, and couples
- Aftercare and relapse prevention.Self-help groups.
- Medicated assistance
For more information, talk to a local VA healthcare provider or call the VA’s general hotline at 1-800-827-1000.
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The affordable care act sometimes referred to as Obamacare, is a health care law set in 2010 that requires the government to offer low-cost health insurance for those in need. Anyone who suffers from alcohol abuse disorder has access to different treatment options that will help them deal with both the physical and mental side effects of addiction. Mental health services and addiction treatment have been officially listed as ten essential health benefits, meaning that individuals can no longer be denied coverage or charged more because of substance use disorder or any other underlying condition.
Some services that are covered include initial health screenings, medication, counseling, detox, and residential treatment. Each health insurance plan covers different services, so be sure to check into what’s included in your policy before deciding on a treatment center.
Depending on which ACA plan you have, different amounts of the total cost for rehabilitation are covered. The five different types of plans are as follows:
Bronze plans – 60 percent expense coverage
Silver plans – 70 percent expense coverage
Gold plans – 80 percent expense coverage
Platinum plans – 90 percent expense coverage
Catastrophic — 60 percent total average cost coverage
Whatever percentage is not covered, you will be expected to pay at the time of service. For example, if treatment is $1,000 and you have the platinum plan, you will need to pay the remaining 10%, which would be $100. Your plan sponsor or care manager should be able to let you know ahead of time what you will be expected to pay.
State-Funded Alcohol Use Disorder Options
Apart from federal provided treatment options, each state also offered its own choices for residents in need of addiction services. While some states offer rehab programs on a walk-in basis, others give priority based on the severity of an individual’s needs. Since waiting treatment times for state-funded services can take months in some cases, most states offer interim care options like group counseling and other outpatient services. This helps prevent people from falling deeper into addiction while they wait.
State-funded centers often have specific requirements in order for an individual to be accepted into a program. These vary by state but may include:
- Proof of residence in the funding state.
- Demonstrated inability to afford other treatment (based on low or no income, lack of insurance, etc.)
- Proof of citizenship or legal residence in the U.S.
- Information about the degree or level of addiction and history.
According to SAMHSA almost 1.8 million people each year enter publicly funded rehab centers. The top substances people sought treatment for included opiates (579,528), alcohol (552,990), and marijuana (228,391). The government offers these programs to reduce the amount of addiction nationwide without discriminating against low income or low access households.
The cost of treatment through a state-funded program will vary but is typically somewhere between no cost and several thousand dollars, depending on the individual’s qualification for the program and the required intensity of treatment. In some cases, with specific state policies, individuals are fully subsidized for treatment. State-funded programs run on a grant policy, meaning the state offers a certain amount of money to each individual. There are full grants provided for many people, such as veterans, pregnant women, or others with specific needs.
Seeking Government Funded Treatment
Coastal Detox believes cost and accessibility should never be a barrier between those suffering from alcohol abuse disorder and treatment options. There are plenty of public assistance options for anyone looking to recover from addiction and regain sobriety. Find out today if your plan covers treatment offered at coastal detox. Everyone deserves a healthy and happy life, and thanks to the efforts the government has put into their funding, everyone has access to it. If you or a loved one needs help overcoming alcohol abuse disorder, find out today what pubic program would best serve your needs.