The addiction treatment rehab industry has been heavily scrutinized over the past 3 years largely due to the opioid epidemic. As a result, there has been a tremendous amount of change for those trying to recover from drug and alcohol addiction – not all of it good.

By Nick Cuneo, President and Founder of Clean Recovery Centers

Doors are closing

For example, it has become increasingly difficult to get certification for the needed levels of care for addiction rehab treatment. Also, the number of days covered by insurance for most levels of care has been reduced considerably. In addition, reimbursements for all rehab treatment services have shrunk dramatically.

What is even more disturbing are the terms of approvals for addicts who have struggled and relapsed multiple times. In these cases, we are seeing even less covered days approved. This is unfortunate and far from optimal for a successful recovery.

Bottom line, this new financial reality has caused many addiction treatment rehabs in Florida to close their doors.

Focusing on outcomes

Financial realities aside, certain changes have been extremely positive. In Florida, for example, all DCF licensed centers must become Joint Commission or CARF accredited this year. Clean Recovery is now Joint Commission accredited.

These accreditations help to ensure that addiction treatment rehab centers adhere to the highest standards in all areas of their businesses. Virtually every component of treatment is measured and monitored, and there is a major emphasis on client treatment outcomes.

Positive steps on the marketing side

There have also been some very positive changes in how addiction treatment rehab centers market their businesses. In order to use the Internet effectively, a company needs to use Google, Facebook and other social media channels.

Today, Google, Facebook, and Bing now require addiction rehab businesses to receive approval and be monitored by Legitscript. This is significant because Legitscript strives to be most trusted source for telling the public which online businesses are legitimate, legal and trustworthy and which are not.

A rigorous approval process

Addiction businesses must compile a tremendous amount of information regarding staffing, background checks, policies and procedures and send it to Legitscript.

Approval can take some time. Once approved, Google, Facebook, and Bing are notified by Legitscript and the approved addiction business can begin using these major Internet entities.

In addition, the business’s Internet activities will be continuously monitored. The algorithms of Google, Facebook, and Bing block all non-approved addiction businesses trying to advertise on them.

Another plus – Cleaning up sober living homes

A lot of emphasis has now been put on cleaning up sober living homes. For example, in Florida, all these homes must be FARR accredited. The procedure used by FARR is very robust, and only serious entities with quality staff will be able to pass the certification requirements. This process now includes essays that must be written, as well as online exams and a face-to-face test.

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