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How to Turn Your Group Practice Into an Outpatient Facility Offering IOP or PHP in New York 

According to SAMHSA’s interactive addiction treatment map, there are over 185 Intensive Outpatient Programs in New York State. Are you thinking of adding number 186? 

If you already operate a group practice, you know the benefits to doing business as a group versus operating a private practice or joining an existing health care group as a physician, counselor or psychiatrist. Group practices combine the benefits of shared risk with the potential for higher pay and more control over tangibles like working environment, caseload, clinical direction, hiring, and more.  

Adding an IOP Program or Transitioning Your Group Practice Into an Outpatient Facility Is a Smart Business Move

IOP programs are a natural outgrowth of many mental health and/or behavioral health focused group practices, especially when one or more of the clinicians in your group focuses on patients with behavioral health issues. IOP programs set your practice apart from other, less focused, group practices. They offer an easily marketable solution for a problem that many people face. IOP programs are in extremely high demand due to ever increasing levels of addiction in our country. Parity laws, like those in New York, mean that clinicians who treat behavioral health issues are beginning to see consistent market rate reimbursements for the life-saving care they provide. 

If the experts are correct, and addiction treatment continues to experience 5.2% annual growth, now is the time to get involved in this $42 billion dollar industry and create a brand that sets you apart from the rest. Opening an IOP program is a great way to individuate your business and carve out a niche before someone else does. 

Thinking Through Your Transition From Group Practice To IOP or PHP Addiction Treatment Program

Rather than provide a step-by-step instruction manual on how to transition your group practice into an IOP, we’ll offer a list of questions you should ask yourself before beginning the process and committing to a plan of action. 

  • Who will write your business plan?

  • Who can help you with the transition? 

  • What professionals will you need to add to your team? 

  • WIll you work with a consultancy on this transition or not? If so, which one?

  • How will you structure your IOP or PHP business? 

  • Will you need a new physical plant or can you repurpose your existing one? 

  • How will you raise the capital needed to make this transition?

  • What is your target market? 

  • Who will you work with to rebrand your organization? 

  • Who will create your strategic marketing plan? 

  • Who will execute your strategic marketing plan? 

  • Who is your competition and how will you differentiate yourself? 

  • Do you want help with licensure or do you want to go through the process yourself? 

  • WIll you create your own clinical program or will you borrow an existing one? 

  • What about policy and procedure manuals, job descriptions, admissions and insurance documents? Will you leverage “boilerplate” documents for this task or start from scratch?

  • How will you talk to your current group partners (or employees) about the project? 

  • What is your target program launch date? 

  • How will you handle billing? 

  • What EHR program will you use for your IOP program?

Here’s Some Other Helpful Posts for Group Practice, IOP, and PHP Addiction Treatment Businesses Based in New York 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Opening an Addiction Treatment Center in New York State

Quickly, Please! How to Appeal a Centene Corp Addiction Treatment Claim With the Expedited Appeal Line

5 Diagnosis Codes to Use with URS for Healthfirst Insurance Addiction Treatment Claims

Thinking of Starting an IOP Program in New York State? We Can Help.

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