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Recovery is just a phone call away. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (352) 771-2700
What is partial hospitalization? Partial hospitalization programs consist of short-term, intensive treatment. It’s less intense than inpatient programs but has more services and a higher level of care than outpatient treatment. PHP is often the first treatment after inpatient, it is integral to establishing healthy habits for sobriety.
Last Updated: September 18, 2024
Partial hospitalization programs bridge the time between inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment and help people prepare for life in recovery.
A partial hospitalization program (PHP) connects the acute, structured setting of inpatient treatment and the autonomy of outpatient treatment. These intensive programs offer at least 20 hours of weekly services, and the duration of care depends on facility policies and individual needs. At The Recovery Village, group therapy sessions in our PHP occur six days per week, for five to six hours daily. On average, people remain in a PHP for one to three weeks.
Research shows that PHPs can reduce symptoms of substance use disorders and mental health conditions at less cost than inpatient or residential settings. Partial hospitalization offers access to acute medical and mental health services in a compressed time frame and is particularly well-suited for people managing co-occurring disorders or two conditions simultaneously.
Our rehab centers help men and women who are struggling with addictions, substance abuse and mental health disorders. We also provide treatment exclusively to International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) members at our Maryland facility, the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery.
One way to define PHP is to understand the differences between PHP and its inpatient and outpatient treatment counterparts. Partial hospitalization programs consist of short-term, intensive treatment. It’s less intense than inpatient programs but has more services and a higher level of care than outpatient treatment.
Most PHPs offer similar amenities to inpatient treatment. Activities in a PHP usually include:
Partial hospitalization can be a starting point for recovery but is usually a direct segue from inpatient hospitalization. Since PHP is often the first treatment after inpatient, it is integral to establishing healthy habits for sobriety. PHP can also be a good fit for patients with co-occurring mental health disorders or medical problems that make treatment needs more complex.
The PHP treatment model became widely popular in the 1990s due to its effectiveness. A growing body of research shows that partial hospitalization programs reduce symptoms associated with addiction and mental health conditions.
Typically, partial hospitalization programs are offered as a step-down program after completing an inpatient hospitalization or residential treatment. These programs allow patients to reintegrate into the world outside of the protective structure of acute inpatient care. However, PHPs can still offer high-level services and therapeutic programming on a relatively short-term basis. Some people may begin with a PHP to reduce their risk of requiring hospitalization.
In PHP, patients are usually physically and psychologically stable and do not need inpatient hospitalization. Patients participate in activities several times daily. These activities consist primarily of individual and group therapy sessions designed to improve a patient’s self-confidence, decision-making skills and communication abilities. Nurses provide continuous assessment and education about medication, and patients have regular access to medical and psychiatric care.
Planning for treatment in a PHP usually starts during the preceding inpatient or residential stay. Program administrators help patients understand the program’s structure and ensure their understanding of exactly which costs will be covered and by whom.
These include evaluations of mental health and substance abuse. At The Recovery Village, patients often receive intake services in medical detox or inpatient care, as PHP is a step down from these higher levels of care.
Partial hospitalization programs are often housed within a larger healthcare system, meaning they provide a range of medical services, which can include:
In addition to medical services, patients in PHP receive therapy, which can take the form of one or more of the following:
Since PHPs bridge the space between inpatient hospitalization and outpatient treatment, the benefits of partial hospitalization programs include elements common to both treatments:
Additional benefits of PHPs include:
When a mental health condition accompanies a drug or alcohol addiction, it intensifies the treatment level required. Without treatment, co-occurring addiction and mental health conditions result in worse outcomes. With integrated treatment, both conditions improve more than treating either independently.
Partial hospitalization programs are particularly well-suited to meet the needs of patients with co-occurring mental health conditions. It takes time and expertise to understand how addiction and mental health conditions interact and how treatment affects the outcomes of these conditions.
At The Recovery Village, medical professionals and psychiatric care providers are well-versed in co-occurring disorders treatment and understand its impact on a person’s ability to engage in a full recovery effort.
The candidates most likely to be a fit for partial hospitalization programs are:
If you are seeking treatment for addiction, a mental health condition or both, it is important to know whether or not PHP is the optimal level of treatment. Patients are most likely to effectively utilize a partial hospitalization program if they:
While PHP can be incredibly beneficial for people who are a suitable fit for this care level, partial hospitalization programs come with pros and cons.
As a rule, the more intensive the rehab program is, the higher the treatment cost. Partial hospitalization programs represent a less intense setting than inpatient or residential treatment, and thus PHP costs less. However, because partial hospitalization provides access to high-level medical care and mental health treatment, it costs more than standard outpatient programs.
One of the primary reasons why partial hospitalization programs have become increasingly popular with patients is because PHP is a cost-effective option for addiction treatment. However, the cost of a PHP depends on factors like:
To understand the cost of PHP, a person can:
If costs are a concern, several different payment options may cover PHP. You may qualify for Medicare or Medicaid benefits if you do not have private insurance. Some state-funded programs also offer sliding fee scales based on your income, which can lower the cost of care.
Since partial hospitalization programs have increased in popularity in the last 20 years, you may readily locate PHPs. To begin your search for a PHP, you can:
Consider certain criteria when searching for quality PHP. First, choosing a fully licensed program by your state that offers immediate access to mental health care is important. A quality PHP should also provide access to medical services and allow you to be seen by a psychiatrist.
Other important things to consider include whether the program offers individual, family and group therapy. Most PHPs provide a combination of individual and group therapy sessions. Selecting a program that offers medication management and MAT services is also helpful, as you may require pharmacological treatment with therapy.
Finally, it’s essential to consider the cost. Before settling on a PHP program, ask what insurance they accept. You may need to verify your benefits or talk with your insurance company to determine the percentage of the program that your benefits will cover. If you do not have insurance, inquire about payment plans or other funding options.
At The Recovery Village, our partial hospitalization program is most often utilized as a step down from being in the intense, 24-hour environment of inpatient or residential treatment. Compared to the more acute treatment types, in a PHP, many of the same services and amenities may be available in a more compressed time frame.
Partial hospitalization programs at The Recovery Village offer these services:
The Recovery Village offers many different levels of treatment for addiction and mental health care. To ensure you are connected to the program that meets your needs, our staff will take time to understand the history of your condition and the outcome of your past treatment efforts. We will assess for co-occurring conditions and conduct an initial evaluation on whether you are likely to need medical detoxification. We will help you find the best fit for you.
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Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program. “Overview of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care Clinical Guidelines: A Resource for States Developing SUD Delivery System Reforms“>Overview[…]ystem Reforms.” Medicaid.gov, April 2017. Accessed February 8, 2023.
Leung, Musetta Y.; Drozd, Edward M.; Maier, Janet. “Impacts Associated with the Medicare Psy[…]italization Programs“>Impacts […]tion Programs.” Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, February 2009. Accessed February 9, 2023.
Schene, A. H. “The effectiveness of psychiatric partial hospitalization and day care.“>The effe[…]and day care.” Current Opinion in Psychiatry, July 2004. Accessed February 9, 2023.
Rush, B.R.; Dennis, M.L.; Scott, C.K.; Castel, S.; Funk, R.R. “The interaction of co-occurring mental d[…]pation and recovery.“>The inte[…]and recovery.” Evaluation Review, 2008. Accessed February 9, 2023.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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