“How to Start a Drug Rehab Business?”
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How do we contact the people on this site? Most comments has no contact details attached to it. Please advice. Lorraine. My email: lorrainecrosson@yahoo.com

Hi, I currently living in Jhb but I am willing to relocate anywhere in South Africa to start a Rehab / Recovery Centre for people with addictive behavior. I am looking for Premises - a farm or similar structure. This will operate as an in-patient facility where residents will stay in during their treatment. Thx  lorrainecrosson@yahoo.com

In 2015, I consulted several business owners in one area or another in the business of providing addiction and mental health treatment. Projects included educating customers on the process of adding insurance payers to their payer mix, selecting, customizing, and implementation of electronic health records, program development, Licensing and Certification by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), accreditation by the Commision on Acreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and guided over 10 new rehab start ups that included residential and outpatient facilities. Interestingly, 90% of my new customers had no experience in the business of addiction and mental health treatment. However, their business management experience significantly helped, as treatment is not all clinical, and most importantly developing a diverse team of ethical, competent, and qualified personnel who are passionate about helping people and their families. In this field there are two fundamental practices to master; business practices and clinical service delivery. Today, after the challenge of learning a new business, all of my customers are satisfied with their initial investment. Today's rehab is not what is was 10 years ago including the population served. There is a need for this business. The fact that thousands of persons who could not afford a decent rehab, now have access to these facilities is directly related to health insurance. That said, we need more quality facilities to service those in need.

Dr. C, it appears you have personal experience and clinical credentials that will only strengthen your ability to therapeutically align with the persons served at your treatment center. Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, rehabs have opened across the nation. The business of treating Addictive Use and Mental Health Disorders is apparently more profitable these due to accessiblity to treatment as a result of health insurance. The industry is now an attractive investment. My opinion; that's fine, we need more rehabs as long as the clinical team is afforded more decision making power when it comes to professional ethics in our industry. An organization will do well as long as the administration doesn't get greedy. Greed results in substandard care and unethical marketing practices. When you find an investor, and you will, make sure this is stipulated in the contracts and agreements. We need quality treatment programs that follow regulatory and insurance guidelines, otherwise getting paid from our major payer stream (insurance) will be painstaking. The fraudulent rehabs in the headlines today, have only awakened a giant that will have a major impact on all providers in the industry. Choose your investor well, assemble an ethical administration and clinical team, and save some lives. investors will be happy with ROI and clinicians with helping others improve quality of life.

Ariel, I'm a consultant in SoCal that assists startups in the Rehab industry with program development, licensing and certification with the Department of Health Care Services, alignment with essential third party vendors such as UR/Medical Billing, Electronic Health Records, and Toxicology services. Finally, I also specialize in CARF accreditation, which will be needed soon after the business is optimized in its business practices and clinical service delivery. Contact me if you need guidance.

@Hitesh Raj, First you need to contact local and provincial officials about regulation for this business. There you will learn the guidelines and restrictions that apply to your area. To secure investors, you'll need to prepare a we'll thought business plan. You need to show you're qualified, competent, and knowledge about the "business" of rehab versus actually experiencing rehab itself. Investors are very careful with where they invest their capital.

@ali Castro: Not being familiar with the guidelines of your country, I recommend your first contact the department of Government that regulates alcohol and drug treatment facilities and operations. There you should find guidelines on facility arrangements. Here in CA, we are permitted to treat our clients in residential single family homes in the community as long as the capacity doesn't exceed 6. If it does then we need permission from the City. That modality of treatment is known as Residential care. Another level of care is Outpatient treatment where clients either attend sessions at an office setting while residing from home or sober living home. - Once you've researched with the Government or regulating body of your area, then prepare a business plan including marketing research. How will you get your clients and how will their treatment be paid for? Finally, you need startup capital. This could come in the form of a grant or private party. Hope this helps.