How To Open A Rehab in Hawai’i

 

Does Hawai’i Have a Drug Problem?

Evidently Hawaii’s substance abuse problem has been no secret for several decades. Apparently, a House subcommittee called a hearing called “The Poisoning of Paradise: Crystal Methamphetamine in Hawai‘i.” At the time Hawai‘i was No.1 per capita for crystal meth use in the country.

But Meth isn’t the only problem. According the the Hawai’i Opioid Initiative 1332 patients were treated with Naloxone over the last five years. That’s a lot of people overdosing for such a relatively small population.

There Only a Few Addiction Treatment Providers in Hawai’i

Hawai’i is a beautiful location to open a drug rehab. It hasn’t seen the saturation other warm climates like California, Arizona and Florida have witnessed.

Fortunately, a list of current treatment centers is provided by the state right under the license application. There are very few operators in Hawai’i which is surprising given the opportunity to lure out of state patients.

Additional Funding for Opening Mental Health Treatment in Hawai’i

The Hawai’i State Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division has been awarded over $11.4 million dollars in funding over four (4) years by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA/CSAT).

The funding will support the Access to Recovery Project, “ATR Ohana”, which provides vouchers to people with drug and alcohol problems to pay for needed treatment and recovery support services.

Understanding the Steps to Accrediting an Addiction Treatment Center in Hawai’i

In order to be accredited, the administrator or board of directors of a program shall apply to the ADAD upon forms provided by the department, and shall provide any information required by the department to demonstrate that the program has met all the requirements of Chapter 98-03 (c).

The licensing application for an outpatient center appears to be one page long however if you plan to open a residential facility then there’s a different license from the Office of Health Care Assurance but it appears to only be a page as well.

How Much Does it Cost to Open a Rehab?

From the initial review, attain a license in Hawaii requires the least amount of hoops to jump through and the cheapest license fee I’ve seen coming in at only $15. The floor plans and a basic outline of care and a few community college classes are apparently all that’s needed to convince the state you’re qualified to treat patients.

To be fair, they do say these are the “minimum” qualifications to open a residential facility. Attaining higher qualifications such as Joint Commission and/or CARF accreditation for not only trust from industry professionals but also attaining insurance contracts.

Additional accreditation can be pricey up front, especially compared to a $15 application fee but laying the proper groundwork for evidence based practices insures quality care and can help move through the insurance billing process much easier.

Understanding the Addiction Treatment Industry

We highly recommend a feasibility study, Hawai’i is still a tricky market. You want to find the right level of care in the right location. There are also cultural implications if you are not Hawaiian. Due your due diligence to listen to the communities needs and respond accordingly.

Creating a business plan, hiring qualified staff,developing a curriculum and acquiring zoning permits are just a few of the things that must be done before you can even open the doors. While the requirements may seem simple, the journey to a successful program isn’t an easy one.

Opening an addiction treatment center in Hawai’i is a noble cause. Build it right and you will help many people for many years to come. Contact Orion Treatment Consulting today to get started.