
As of 2017, West Virginia had 102 drug and alcohol rehab centers, 84 of which accept Medicaid. This is good news for people with low incomes who need addiction treatment to overcome drug or alcohol addiction.
Without Medicaid, many West Virginians would find the cost of drug rehab prohibitive, even to the point where they would not seek help in the first place.
The COVID-19 pandemic makes this situation even more dire. Fortunately, many drug and alcohol treatment facilities remain open and have protocols in place to protect patients and staff.
West Virginia Medicaid Insurance Coverage For Alcohol And Drug Treatment
West Virginia Medicaid is administered by the state’s Bureau of Medical Services under the Department of Health and Human Resources. Substance abuse coverage is listed under behavioral health benefits.
There are four managed care organizations (MCO) that participate in West Virginia’s Medicaid program.
They are:
- The Health Plan
- Aetna Better Health of West Virginia
- UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia
In January 2014, West Virginia accepted the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Drug And Alcohol Rehab Programs Often Covered By West Virginia Medicaid
West Virginia Medicaid pays for treatment in both inpatient treatment and outpatient drug rehab programs, though Medicaid tends to cover far more outpatient services than inpatient.
Moreover, patients enrolled in Medicaid might be required to start with outpatient rehab before they are admitted into an inpatient program.
Some covered services include:
- inpatient treatment
- outpatient treatment
- intensive outpatient treatment
- dual diagnosis treatment
- crisis stabilization
- targeted case management
- life skills
- residential treatment for children and adolescents
- detoxification
- individual therapy
- family therapy
- group therapy
- mental health treatment services
- interventions
- drug screening
Top 4 Rehab Centers That Accept West Virginia Medicaid
These four addiction treatment centers that take West Virginia Medicaid were chosen on the basis of patient recommendations, their accreditation levels, and high standards of treatment.
1. Appalachian Community Health Center, Buckhannon, West Virginia
The Appalachian Community Health Center helps patients trying to heal from their alcohol or drug addiction through outpatient treatment and intensive outpatient treatment services.
Their alcohol and drug treatments include such therapies as cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management, relapse prevention, and rational emotive behavioral therapy. They offer trauma counseling, practice community outreach, and 12-step programming.
Special treatment programs offered by the addiction center include:
- aftercare
- discharge planning
- case management
- group counseling
- interim services
- housing services
- substance abuse screening
- life skills
The drug rehab center accepts patients who are already on opioid medication and helps patients obtain social services. The age groups they treat range from children and adolescents to adults. Medicare is also accepted at this rehab center.
Location and contact information:
27 South Kanawha St.
Buckhannon, WV 26201
(304) 472-2022
2. Chestnut Ridge Center West Virginia University Hospital, Morgantown, West Virginia
Chestnut Ridge Center offers inpatient drug rehab, outpatient treatment, and partial hospitalization programs (PHP) for patients with a substance use disorder.
Besides such addiction therapies as behavior modification, and group and couples therapy, they offer telemedicine. This is especially important for patients who find it difficult to get to the treatment center or do not want to travel because of the pandemic. Chestnut Ridge also treats patients with a dual diagnosis.
Chestnut Ridge’s special programs include case management and programs for people with serious mental illness. They offer assertive community treatment and have language services for patients who are hearing- impaired or speak Spanish, Hindi, and other languages. They accept age groups from children to seniors.
Location and contact information:
930 Chestnut Ridge Rd.
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 598-6400
3. Highland Health Center, Charleston, West Virginia
This treatment facility offers medication-assisted detox to addicted individuals. Besides aiding patients trying to overcome opioid addiction, they offer detoxification to patients addicted to cocaine, benzodiazepines, methamphetamines, and alcohol in a hospital inpatient setting.
While patients are detoxing from their drug of abuse, they are further helped through addiction therapies such as anger management, rational emotive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing.
The recovery center promotes the 12-step philosophy and has special treatment programs for adult men and women and patients with a dual diagnosis, or a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental health disorder. There are also treatment services for patients who are hearing-impaired.
Location and contact information:
300 56th St. SE
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 926-1669
4. River Park Hospital, Huntington, West Virginia
This hospital helps addicted patients from children to seniors. Addiction therapies include group, couples, and family therapy as well as individual psychotherapy.
They also have addiction services for patients with co-occurring disorders, or a dual diagnosis. Other therapies are trauma and activity therapy and behavior modification.
River Park Hospital has special addiction treatment programs for patients referred by the court, seniors, children with serious emotional disturbance, and patients with PTSD. The hospital also has crisis intervention and walk-in services for those experiencing psychiatric emergencies.
Location and contact information:
1230 6th Ave.
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 526-9111
West Virginia Medicaid FAQs
West Virginia Medicaid offers coverage for a variety of addiction treatment programs. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about choosing a drug rehab center that works with West Virginia Medicaid.
❓ Does West Virginia Medicaid Cover Inpatient Treatment?
✔️ West Virginia Medicaid pays for inpatient treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. A patient who is in inpatient treatment typically lives at the treatment facility for 30, 60, 90, or even 120 days.
❓ Does West Virginia Medicaid Cover Outpatient Treatment Services?
✔️ West Virginia Medicaid covers outpatient programs, where the patient visits the addiction treatment center for a few hours a week then goes home or to a halfway house or sober living facility.
❓ Does West Virginia Medicaid Cover Partial Hospitalization Programs?
✔️ West Virginia Medicaid doesn’t cover the cost of partial hospitalization. In PHP programs, the patient spends more time at the drug and alcohol rehab center for treatment than they would for regular outpatient or intensive outpatient treatment.
❓ Does West Virginia Medicaid Cover Intensive Outpatient Programs?
✔️ West Virginia Medicaid does cover intensive outpatient treatment, or IOP. In this service setting, the patient spends more time per week at their treatment center than they would in a regular outpatient program.
❓ Does West Virginia Medicaid Pay For Medication-Assisted Treatment?
✔️ Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is paid for by West Virginia Medicaid. MAT is becoming available among rehab centers nationwide because it allows patients to withdraw from their drug of abuse under supervision.
❓ Does West Virginia Medicaid Cover The Cost Of Suboxone?
✔️ Suboxone, a medication used in MAT, is covered under West Virginia Medicaid’s fee-for-service plans, as are buprenorphine and buprenorphine/naloxone tablets.
However, the patient has to have proof that they are in SUD counseling, and the dosage can be no more than 16 milligrams per day after six months. The medications also need prior authorization before they can be prescribed by a doctor.
❓ Does West Virginia Medicaid Cover The Cost Of Methadone?
✔️ West Virginia Medicaid does not cover methadone. Yet, Medicaid policyholders who need methadone as part of their addiction treatment plan may have other options for treatment coverage, such as a customized payment pan from the rehab center.
Paying For Costs Not Covered By West Virginia Medicaid
There are many ways a patient can pay for a treatment program if Virginia Medicaid doesn’t cover it. They can use their own savings, private health insurance, or state-funded insurance plans other than Medicaid.
Some recovery centers accept military insurance, funds for child and family services, or Veterans Administration funds. A number of treatment facilities set up payment arrangements with the patient or have sliding fee scales, and a handful of rehab facilities are free of charge.
West Virginia Medicaid Eligibility Requirements
If a person wants to enroll in West Virginia Medicaid, they must live in the state and be a legal alien, a citizen, or a permanent resident of the United States. Their annual income must be low or very low but within a percentage of the federal poverty level.
A potential enrollee must also be in at least one of the listed categories:
- 65 or older
- blind
- disabled or live with a disabled family member
- pregnant women
- responsible for a child who is 18 or younger
Finding Rehab Facilities That Accept West Virginia Medicaid
Many addiction treatment centers in West Virginia accept Medicaid and are able to help low-income patients heal from their addictions.
Most have also remained open during the pandemic, so you or a loved one shouldn’t hesitate to seek help for alcohol or drug addiction. To learn more about West Virginia rehab facilities that accept Medicaid, contact one of our addiction specialists today.
Published on November 4, 2020
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.
- Benefits.gov — West Virginia Medicaid
https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1645 - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources — West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services
https://dhhr.wv.gov/bms/Pages/default.aspx - The Intelligencer. Wheeling News-Register — The Health Plan Selected as W.Va. Medicaid Provider
https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2020/06/the-health-plan-selected-as-w-va-medicaid-provider/