12 questions that separate a real rehab from a sales operation
Print this, keep it by the phone, and ask every program the same questions. How they answer tells you as much as what they say.
Ask every program the same twelve questions: accreditation and license numbers, named credentialed staff, whether a physician is involved, medication options, how the treatment plan is individualized, the total written cost, in-network status and your out-of-pocket, whether anyone is paid to refer you, the aftercare plan, and whether you can speak to your clinician first. Plain answers are a good sign; evasion or pressure is the answer.
- Are you accredited, and by whom?Why it matters: You want a specific answer — Joint Commission or CARF — that you can verify in their registry.
- Are you licensed by the state, and what's your license number?Why it matters: Licensing is separate from accreditation and is the legal baseline to operate.
- Who are the clinical staff, and what are their credentials and licenses?Why it matters: Get names. You can confirm each in the NPI registry and your state board.
- Is there a physician or psychiatric provider involved in care?Why it matters: Important for detox, medication, and co-occurring mental-health conditions.
- Do you offer medication for addiction (e.g., buprenorphine, naltrexone)?Why it matters: Medication is a gold-standard, evidence-based option for opioid and alcohol use disorder; a program that dismisses it outright is out of step with the science.
- How is my individual treatment plan created and updated?Why it matters: Effective care is individualized and reviewed over time, not one-size-fits-all.
- What does the full course of treatment cost, in writing?Why it matters: Ask for the all-in figure and what's excluded, before you commit.
- Are you in-network with my insurance, and what will I owe?Why it matters: "We accept your insurance" is not the same as in-network. Get the out-of-pocket estimate in writing.
- Is anyone paid a fee for referring me here?Why it matters: An honest program will answer plainly. Compensation for referrals is a brokering red flag.
- What happens after discharge — what's the continuing-care plan?Why it matters: Recovery is long-term; a real program plans for aftercare, not just admission.
- Can I speak with the clinician who would treat me before enrolling?Why it matters: Reasonable programs allow this. Refusal paired with sales pressure is telling.
- What are your policies on family involvement and my privacy?Why it matters: You should understand confidentiality (and any 42 CFR Part 2 protections) up front.
How to read the answers
You are not grading a test — you are watching how a program behaves under straightforward questions. Reassuring programs give specific, verifiable answers and invite you to confirm them. Concerning programs deflect ("don't worry about that"), pivot to amenities, or apply time pressure. The NIDA principles of effective treatment are a useful yardstick: individualized plans, adequate duration, behavioral therapies, medication where indicated, and attention to co-occurring conditions.