Many drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Orange County do not take insurance for varying reasons. In fact, many drug and alcohol treatment facilities in America do not take insurance. Why? Simply put, the amount of time and the amount of hoops a treatment facility’s personnel must jump through to get money from insurance companies is just not worth it. Insurance companies have made it so difficult for drug and alcohol treatment facilities, that those addiction treatment facilities that do take insurance are often bogged down by paperwork and administrative duties. The endless paperwork, administrative nightmares, and needless requirements insurance companies impose on drug and alcohol treatment facilities who would like to take insurance simply are not worth it and actually takes away from the quality of care a treatment facility is able to provide in my opinion. I have worked at drug treatment facilities that do take insurance and addiction treatment facilities that do not take insurance, and I have witnessed the difference in the quality of care each one is able to provide. The treatment facility that took insurance was constantly worried about codes, regulations, and paperwork, whereas the treatment facility that did not take insurance was much more focused on client care. The amount of regulatory paperwork at the insurance treatment facility became so ridiculous that when I added the amount of time I was spending with clients compared to the amount of time I was spending doing paperwork, the amount of paperwork I was doing surpassed the amount of time I spent working with clients! I found the same thing happens at State run facilities. So unfortunately many of the premier drug and alcohol treatment facilities in the Nation do not take insurance because insurance companies have made it too difficult to treat the clients they pay for.
Author
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Paul Alexander is the CEO, President & Founder of Northbound Treatment Network in Newport Beach, California. He believes wholeheartedly in transformational leadership, organizational health and effective, fully integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment. With over 27 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Paul has extensive knowledge of “in vivo” treatment modalities, clinical development, operations, strategy, marketing and financial planning. He has been widely recognized for his development of collegiate-based residential treatment programs for students in recovery and authored a research study at The University of California confirming this modality’s effectiveness.
Paul’s comprehensive professional experience, willingness to innovate, and emphasis on organizational health are vital factors in Northbound’s continued success. Paul received his Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist training at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2002. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. Paul currently serves on The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) board. In addition, he serves on The Family Recovery Foundation board and The CarePossible board in Orange County; both organizations are committed to raising funds for family recovery and treatment for former military personnel. Paul is in recovery himself and lives in Orange County with his wife Silvana and his two young sons, Noah and Dean.
