Are There Government-Funded Rehab Programs?

If you are looking for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment but have limited financial resources, you may want to consider government-funded addiction treatment programs.

These rehab programs can range from inpatient to outpatient treatment and may be low-cost or even free, depending on the program and your needs.

What Is A Government-Funded Rehab Program?

Government-funded drug and alcohol rehab programs offer addiction treatment services for people who have low incomes or no income at all.

These alcohol and drug treatment programs provide such services as:

• inpatient treatment
• dual diagnosis care
• medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• residential treatment
• detoxification
• outpatient treatment
• opioid addiction treatment
• evidence-based treatments such as behavioral therapy
• recovery support
• treatment referrals
• support groups

All of the treatment options necessary for addiction recovery are available at government-funded drug rehab centers. These rehabilitation centers are not necessarily government-owned.

Some rehab facilities are privately owned but provide alcohol or drug addiction treatment programs that are fully or partially paid for by government funds.

Options For Government-Funded Addiction Care

Government funding supports addiction treatment in two main ways: through government-funded health insurance plans and through government grants or other state or federal funding.

Substance abuse services offered by government-funded treatment providers are often the same as those offered by private rehab centers.

Addiction Treatment Centers That Accept Medicaid

Medicaid is an insurance program that is funded by both federal and state governments. This insurance plan is aimed at populations with little or no income or people who have specific health conditions.

Each state has a slightly different way of managing its Medicaid programs, but there are some common features.

Small copays may be involved, but Medicaid programs generally cover all addiction treatment services, giving qualifying people affordable access to treatment of alcohol or drug abuse.

A treatment facility that accepts Medicaid as payment for its treatment programs may be able to help potential clients determine their eligibility or even apply for Medicaid.

Rehab Centers That Accept Medicare

Medicare is a program funded by the federal government that offers insurance coverage for healthcare and behavioral health services, including substance abuse treatment.

This health insurance program offers coverage that requires discounted copays, payment for a percentage of the service, or no payment at all, depending on what plan you have.

To qualify for Medicare, you must be 65 years of age or older. Other qualifications may apply, but in general, age is the qualifying factor for eligibility.

Rehab centers that accept Medicare receive government funds through this program that pay for drug and alcohol treatment.

Substance Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Funding

SAMHSA is a federal government agency that supports the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders through information and funding.

SAMHSA offers two forms of funding to qualifying treatment centers: block grants and specific grants.

SAMHSA’s block grants are non-competitive, which means that rehab centers do not have to meet the specific requirements of a grant in a competition-based environment.

Specific or competitive grants are usually provided to support a specific type of treatment, such as opioid use disorder (OUD) care or addiction treatment for pregnant people.

Addiction treatment centers compete for these grants to bolster their funding for the specific program.

Treatment programs that receive SAMHSA grants provide the funding to qualifying clients. Call a facility’s helpline to find out if you qualify.

State-Run Addiction Treatment Facilities

Finally, some facilities are owned and operated by the state. State-funded addiction treatment facilities offer free or low-cost services for people who need addiction treatment but cannot afford it.

These treatment centers typically offer services in hospital or clinic-like environments. Clients can access detox services, therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and other common services.

State-operated rehab centers are usually run by the state’s department of health, which will offer a list of available substance use treatment facilities on its website.

Find Addiction Treatment Today

If you or a loved one needs addiction treatment, find it today by calling us to learn more about treatment options and how to access them.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff