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Medicaid & Drug Treatment

Medicaid provides health insurance for some low-income people. Not all low-income people qualify for Medicaid, though. In many states, adults must be elderly or disabled or fall into other special categories to qualify. The eligibility criteria vary from state to state. Medicaid recipients in need of drug treatment can use Medicaid to pay for the treatment they need.

  1. Medicaid Coverage

    • Medicaid coverage varies slightly from state to state. It covers mental health treatment in all states, and provides drug treatment under the same guidelines as mental health treatment like treatment for conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. People seeking drug treatment must contact the Medicaid department in their state, though, to find out exactly what Medicaid covers in that state.

    Inpatient Treatment

    • Medicaid covers inpatient treatment for drug abuse when a physician or other treatment provider deems inpatient care medically necessary. Physicians may deem inpatient care medically necessary if a person needs to detox under medical supervision, for example, or if a person displays signs of psychosis or suicidal impulses.

    Outpatient Treatment

    • Medicaid covers outpatient treatment for drug abuse in the same way it covers outpatient mental health treatment. The exact coverage varies from state to state. Covered treatment may include individual counseling, group counseling, educational programs, marital counseling, family counseling, case management and social services. Medicaid also covers medical treatment related to drug abuse. Outpatient treatment may also include self-help groups like Narcotics Anonymous, but people attend these programs at no charge.

    Treatment Centers

    • People receive treatment for drug abuse in various types of treatment centers. Residential treatment centers provide inpatient care, sometimes on a long-term basis. Some hospitals provide inpatient treatment as well, usually on a short-term basis, such as when a person needs to detox under medical supervision. Some treatment centers offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment, while others just offer one or the other. Some mental health centers offer substance abuse treatment as well as mental health treatment for conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. The exact services provided vary from center to center, so people in need of treatment need to ask questions to verify that a particular program will meet their needs.

    Accessing Treatment

    • Because many drug and alcohol treatment centers do not accept Medicaid, Medicaid recipients may have some trouble accessing the treatment they need. To locate a treatment center or program that does accept Medicaid, Medicaid recipients can contact their caseworker to request information about treatment providers. Recipients can also simply telephone local treatment centers and ask if they accept Medicaid, realizing that they may need to make a number of telephone calls before finding one that does. The board of mental health in many counties is another resource and may refer people to treatment programs that take Medicaid.

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