If you’re thinking of launching an outpatient program at your group practice in Illinois  - whether that’s an IOP or a PHP style program - congratulations! This is a big step in the development of your business. If you’ve gotten this far, that means you’ve already addressed so many hurdles that many people never seem to overcome in their quest for entrepreneurial success. Now that you’ve come this far, there’s very little stopping you from going even further and developing a full-blown outpatient program for your clients. 

So, if it’s that easy, why haven’t you done it yet? Well, there’s likely a few reasons. There’s a lot of details that goes into planning an outpatient program and it’s probable that you haven’t had the time to tend to all of them. If you’re just thinking through what the process will look like and you want information that’s specific to the state of Illinois, you’ve come to the right place. 

Let’s go over a few of the major considerations you’ll want to spend time with as you develop your plan to turn your group practice into an addiction treatment IOP or PHP program in Illinois. 

Are You Going to Complete the Addiction Treatment Certification (or, Likely, Re-Certification) Process in Illinois or Will You Hire it Out?  

There are many organizations that will help you get certified in the state of Illinois to treat addiction. As you likely already know, especially if you are considering opening an addiction treatment program in the state, Illinois requires addiction treatment providers at all levels of care to apply for licensing. If your group practice was in general mental health, then that means you’ll need to apply for addiction treatment licensing for the first time. The decision about whether or not to hire out this process is a personal one. If the paperwork feels insurmountable, that’s a good indication that you should engage a professional to speed the process along. Also, consider the value of your time. Is paperwork and red tape navigation the highest and best use of your valuable time? Probably not. 

Does Your Existing Group Practice Location in Illinois Serve Your Addiction Treatment IOP? 

Outpatient addiction treatment can happen anywhere, but some “physical plant” locations are better than others. Even if you’ll be providing an entirely virtual program, the physical location can hinder (or support) your business ventures’ success. 

If you’ll be hosting in-person office visits, ask yourself: 

How convenient is this location for my clients? Is it near work and home? Is there adequate parking? Is it on a bus line? 

How conducive is the layout to group therapy? Will we have enough space to host groups? How many patients can we accommodate at one time? 

How visible is the property? Can we leverage our location for free advertising? At the same time, is the entrance too public? Will our patients feel comfortable entering and exiting the building?

Will Your Illinois Addiction Treatment IOP or PHP Program Be Billing Insurance? How About Medicaid? 

Many insurance providers will cover IOP and PHP programs. It’s often the case that payers are more forgiving towards outpatient programs than traditional residential programs, which can be more difficult to get insurance to cover. Will your IOP or PHP be billing insurance or just serve self-pay clients? Who will be responsible for the credentialing process and what panels will you target first? Will you engage a third party credentialing service or endeavor to complete this task in house? Whatever you choose, be sure to begin this process early! Credentialing is a common stumbling block for new IOP addiction treatment programs.

Other Blog Posts From Behave Health That May Interest Addiction Treatment Professionals in Illinois 

How to Open an Addiction Treatment Center in Illinois

What Addiction Treatment Diagnosis Codes Should I Use for URs With Health Care Service Corporation?

Should Your Addiction Treatment Center Require Vaccines for Employees?

Need More Help Turning Your Group Practice Into an IOP or PHP in Illinois? We’re Here for You.

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