
How to Open a Rehab in New York
A Guide to Licensure, Accreditation and Business Development for Opening a Drug Rehab in New York
New York City is in the midst of a severe drug overdose crisis, with a staggering statistic of one person succumbing to an overdose every three hours. Furthermore this crisis is exacerbated by the presence of substances such as fentanyl and xylazine, which make the drug supply highly unpredictable and significantly elevate the risk of overdose and other associated harms.
Sadly, individuals who use drugs have historically encountered formidable barriers in accessing the essential medical and social support they require. By and large this is evidence of the enduring stigma surrounding drug use and the criminalization of these individuals. Addicts are discarded in a system of catch and release with the judicial system instead of being offered life saving treatment.
Subsequently we want to emphatically state addiction is a treatable disease. Being that New York State has almost 20 million people and over 1.9 million New Yorkers (1.77 million adults and 156,000 youth ages 12-17) who struggle with substance abuse deserve accessible high quality addiction treatment.
Licensing a Drug Rehab in New York
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) plays a pivotal role in the certification and regulation of addiction treatment providers throughout the state.
In New York, it’s important to note that certification is mandatory for addiction treatment providers, unlike in some other states where it might be optional Skipping the certification process can have serious consequences, and it’s a crucial step for ensuring compliance with state regulations and providing quality addiction treatment services.
It’s important to note the process of obtaining certification for an addiction treatment provider is notably more involved than in many other states. The process unfolds in distinct phases:
- Consultation Phase: It begins with an initial consultation where you meet and discuss your plans with both the OASAS Regional Office (RO) and the Local Governmental Unit (LGU) specific to your facility’s location. Following this consultation, the RO and LGU offer recommendations on how to proceed, including whether to move forward with your plans.
- Endorsement Phase: In this phase, you work on obtaining official endorsements from both the RO and LGU.
- Application Phase: After successfully navigating the consultation and endorsement phases, you can proceed to submit your official application. You will need to provide the necessary documentation to the OASAS Certification Bureau, the OASAS Regional Office, and the LGU you’ve been assigned.
In sum it’s essential to adhere to New York’s unique and comprehensive certification procedure. Specifically so that it ensures compliance with state regulations.
How Much Does it Cost to Start a Addiction Treatment Facility in New York?
In essence an outpatient addiction treatment program will cost upwards of several hundred thousand dollars. However opening a drug rehab in NY will cost you significantly more. The licensure process is extensive and lengthy, not to mention increased cost of doing business in New York.
When raising capital for an addiction program in NY carefully consider your location, target population and clinical team. Undeniably the process of opening a drug rehab in New York may take several years. Be ready to fund your project during that time. Insurance reimburse takes time as well as landing in network contracts.
Why Hire a Drug Rehab Consultant?
You’ve run the numbers, you’ve got your idea and the excessive regulation of NY won’t discourage your inspiration. At Orion Treatment Consulting, we wish to emphatically state there is no need to go it alone and we wish to see all evidence based treatment succeed. The citizens of New York deserve accessible in-network treatment.
Moreover we can help with every aspect of opening and operating an addiction treatment center. Markedly, we have decades of experience and can help you avoid common pitfalls along the way. We can’t expedite the state’s process but we can make sure the application is completed correctly.
We hire professionals, build websites, brand and market creative content, create curriculums and policies and procedures specific to your state and regional regulations. The process can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be, reach out to a drug rehab consultant today.