Admissions staff talk to people in crisis all day and are good at it. Go in with a short list, ask every program the same things, and write the answers down.
- Is there an opening this week, and at which level of care?
- Are you in network with my plan, and will you check my benefits before I commit to anything?
- What is your state license or certification number?
- Who provides medical care during detox, and is a nurse on site overnight?
- What does a typical day look like?
- How long do people usually stay, and who decides when it ends?
- What happens on the day the program ends, and who arranges the next step?
- Can family visit, and when?
- What is the full cost in writing, and what does it leave out?
- If I leave early, what do I owe?
A program that answers these plainly is worth a second call. A program that pushes you to decide on the phone, offers to fly you in today, or will not name its license is not.