
The District of Columbia offers Medicaid coverage for eligible residents of Washington D.C. through DC Medicaid/Healthy Families, a federally funded healthcare program.
Under federal parity law, most Medicaid plans in the United States are required to cover mental health and substance use services.
With DC Medicaid or DC Healthy Families coverage, certain drug and alcohol rehab services may be eligible for coverage.
Learn more about how to use Medicaid to pay for addiction treatment
DC Medicaid Coverage Plans
Individuals and families in Washington D.C. are eligible to apply for DC Medicaid if they are low-income and meet other eligibility requirements.
DC Medicaid offers multiple types of Medicaid Managed Care Plans to best meet the needs of individual residents and their families seeking healthcare coverage.
DC Medicaid Managed Care Plans include:
- AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia
- Care First Community Health Plan District of Columbia
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- MedStar Family Choice District of Columbia
Not all DC Medicaid plans offer the same level of rehab coverage. In addition, the types of addiction services covered can also vary depending on the type of health plan a person has.
To verify your rehab coverage, you’ll need to check your insurance policy or contact the DC Department of Behavioral Health for more information.
Treatment Services Covered By DC Medicaid
The DC Department of Behavioral Health offers a range of behavioral health services for Medicaid enrollees, including treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
Treatment services eligible for DC Medicaid coverage include:
- detoxification
- residential treatment
- individual counseling
- group counseling
- medication-assisted treatment
- substance abuse prevention
- recovery services
Only certain rehab centers in Washington D.C. accept DC Medicaid for payment.
To verify whether a rehab facility accepts your insurance, you’ll need to talk to an admissions specialist or call the treatment facility directly.
Top 5 Alcohol And Drug Rehab Centers That Accept DC Medicaid
Multiple drug rehab centers in Washington D.C. accept DC Medicaid. Here, you’ll find the top 5 drug and alcohol rehab centers in D.C. that accept DC Medicaid:
1. Circles Of Hope, Washington D.C.
Circles of Hope is a private outpatient treatment facility that offers general outpatient treatment and intensive outpatient treatment services for drug and alcohol addiction.
Drug and alcohol treatment services offered include:
- intensive outpatient addiction treatment services
- individual, group, and family counseling
- co-occurring disorder treatment
- trauma counseling
- 12-based treatment approach
- behavioral therapy
Circles of Hope is certified/licensed by the District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health. They accept Medicaid, Medicare, self-pay, and private insurance.
Location and contact information:
3000 Connecticut Ave. NW
Suite 321
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 265 2343
2. Hillcrest Children & Family Center, Washington D.C.
Hillcrest is a social services and behavioral health services agency certified by the D.C. Department of Behavioral Health.
This clinic offers substance use disorder services for children, adolescents, and adults on an outpatient level.
Drug and alcohol treatment services offered include:
- individual, group, and family therapy
- addiction counseling
- mental health counseling
- youth substance abuse treatment
- intensive outpatient services
- assertive community treatment (for adults)
- supportive housing
- functional family therapy
Location and contact information:
3029 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20032
915 Rhode Island Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 232-6100
3. La Clínica Del Pueblo, Washington D.C.
This medical center offers the only bilingual substance abuse treatment program serving the Latino community in Washington D.C. This drug and alcohol rehab center offers adult and adolescent services.
Addiction treatment services offered at this DC rehab center include:
- intensive outpatient treatment
- individual and group counseling
- mental health therapy
- support groups
- case management
- HIV counseling
La Clínica Del Pueblo offers a holistic, culturally competent, and trauma-informed approach to treatment. Its program is certified by the Department of Behavioral Health in the District of Columbia.
Location and contact information:
2831 15th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-4788
4. Psychiatry Institute of Washington, Washington D.C.
The Psychiatry Institute is a Joint Commission-accredited treatment facility that offers mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs at multiple levels of care.
Substance abuse rehab programs offered include:
- inpatient detoxification program
- partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- adolescent acute inpatient program
The Psychiatry Institute offers additional treatment services for people with a history of trauma and mental health disorders, including dissociative disorders.
Location and contact information:
4228 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-5610
5. The Better Way Program, Washington D.C.
Better Way Program is a state-certified nonprofit rehab program that offers a range of outpatient services for individuals and families affected by substance abuse.
Drug and alcohol treatment services offered include:
- 12-Step recovery program
- relapse prevention
- recovery mentoring and coaching
- individual and group counseling
- health education
- spiritual support services
- family and marital services
Location and contact information:
4601 Sheriff Rd. NE
Washington, DC 20019
(202) 396-4290
What To Know About Using DC Medicaid For Drug Rehab
Before beginning a drug or alcohol rehab program, there is information you will want to know about your coverage and any financial responsibilities for treatment you may have.
Prior to starting treatment, you’ll want to find answers to the following questions:
- Am I responsible for covering copays or out-of-pocket costs?
- Do I need to meet a deductible before becoming eligible for coverage?
- Does my DC Medicaid plan cover this type of treatment?
- How long will DC Medicaid cover substance abuse treatment?
Answers to these questions can vary depending on the type of DC Medicaid plan you have and other personal factors related to your coverage.
You can contact the DC Department of Behavioral Health to find more information about the coverage offered under the health plan of yourself or a loved one.
Most treatment services covered by Medicaid are available at little to no cost to those who have DC Medicaid behavioral health coverage.
DC Medicaid And Addiction Treatment FAQs
If you have questions about using DC Medicaid to pay for drug and alcohol treatment, you’re not alone. This is common. Find answers here to some of the most frequently asked questions.
❓ Which Drug And Alcohol Treatment Services Are Covered By DC Medicaid?
✔️ District of Columbia residents with DC Medicaid can access a variety of drug and alcohol treatment services.
Drug and alcohol treatment services covered by DC Medicaid include:
- inpatient detoxification
- crisis intervention
- residential treatment
- medication-assisted treatment
- medication management
- substance use disorder counseling
- mental health therapy
- drug screening
- clinical care coordination
- recovery coaching
Coverage for these treatment services can vary depending on the type of DC Medicaid plan and the type of treatment service or rehab program sought.
❓ Is Preauthorization Required To Access Addiction Treatment With DC Medicaid?
✔️ Getting prior authorization may be required in order to receive coverage for drug and alcohol treatment services. Requests for preauthorization can be submitted online, by phone, or by fax.
❓ Do All Washington D.C. Rehab Centers Accept Medicaid?
✔️ No. Several drug and alcohol rehab centers in Washington D.C. accept Medicaid, but this isn’t true of every rehab facility.
To confirm whether a rehab facility accepts DC Medicaid, you’ll need to contact the DC Department of Behavioral Health or contact the treatment center directly.
❓ Does DC Medicaid Cover The Costs Of Inpatient Treatment?
✔️ Inpatient treatment for substance abuse is covered by DC Medicaid. During inpatient treatment, residents live in a rehab facility temporarily for full-time support and treatment.
❓ Does DC Medicaid Cover The Cost Of Medication-Assisted Treatment For Opioid Addiction?
✔️ Outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is eligible for DC Medicaid coverage. This is the most effective type of treatment for opioid dependence and addiction.
❓ Does DC Medicaid Cover The Cost Of Methadone?
✔️ Methadone is covered under DC Medicaid Fee-For-Service (FFS) plans.
In order to receive coverage for methadone, Medicaid enrollees are required to be enrolled in or submit proof of substance use disorder counseling.
❓ Does DC Medicaid Cover The Cost Of Suboxone?
✔️ DC Medicaid covers Suboxone and Zubsolv under Fee-For-Service (FFS) plans, with limitations.
Enrollees must have documented proof of receiving substance use disorder counseling before receiving Suboxone, and prior authorization is required.
Learn more about paying for Suboxone treatment with Medicaid
Find A Rehab Center That Accepts DC Medicaid Today
Thousands of adolescents and adults in the District of Columbia are estimated to have drug or alcohol dependence. Beginning the journey to recovery is just a phone call away.
Call our helpline today to find more information about substance abuse treatment covered by DC Medicaid.
Published on September 7, 2021
Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
These include peer-reviewed journals, government entities and academic institutions, and leaders in addiction healthcare and advocacy. Learn more about how we safeguard our content by viewing our editorial policy.
- AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia—Behavioral health - Medicaid enrollees
https://www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/member/eng/medicaid/benefits/behavioral.aspx - American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)—Medicaid Coverage of Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/state-medicaid-reports/state-medicaid-reports_dc.pdf?sfvrsn=2 - DC Department of Behavioral Health—Substance Use Disorder Services
https://dbh.dc.gov/page/apra - DC Department of Behavioral Health—Treatment Services
https://dbh.dc.gov/service/treatment-services - DC Medicaid—DC MMIS Provider Billing Manual
https://www.dc-medicaid.com/dcwebportal/documentInformation/getDocument/24795 - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)—Behavioral Health Barometer: District of Columbia
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DistrictOfColumbia_BHBarometer_Volume_4.pdf