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Facilities that offer substance use disorder treatment include inpatient and outpatient centers and medication treatment programs. These facilities can go through the accreditation process to demonstrate the standard of care they provide. Various accreditation bodies can be used for this process.
- Accredited rehab centers undergo thorough evaluations to meet high standards of care, ensuring safety, evidence-based treatments, and qualified staff.
- Accredited facilities are more likely to be covered by insurance providers, giving patients confidence in the care they will receive.
- While not required by law, accreditation demonstrates a commitment to maintaining high treatment standards and improving patient outcomes.
What is rehab accreditation?
Rehab accreditation is a process that rehabilitation facilities can undertake to prove the quality of care they provide. Rehab centers that are accredited have gone through this process and demonstrated to the accrediting body that they meet most or all of these regulatory standards.
Why is accreditation important?
Accreditation is important, as it involves a lengthy process to determine the level of quality of the care provided by the facility. Becoming accredited indicates that the facility cares about the safety of its service users and staff and the effectiveness of the treatments they provide. [1]
People looking for a treatment program may have certain criteria that they require from a facility, and their decision is likely to be influenced by the standard of care provided. Accreditation can help people feel assured that a center will meet their needs and provide quality treatment.
Additionally, accreditation status can impact insurance coverage. Insurance providers might offer more coverage for accredited centers or might refuse to cover treatment by a nonaccredited center.
Accrediting bodies
The two most common bodies to provide accreditation to rehab centers in the US are: [2]
- The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF): CARF provides accreditation to over 9,300 service providers including medical rehabilitation, opioid treatment programs, and behavioral health.
- The Joint Commission: The Joint Commission provides accreditation and certification to over 22,000 hospitals and healthcare organizations in the US including addiction programs.
In 2020, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) produced a National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) report. This states that 22.9% of addiction treatment facilities were accredited by the Joint Commission, while 29.6% were accredited by CARF. [2]
Other organizations providing accreditation or certification to addiction treatment centers include: [2][3]
- Social Current (previously the Council on Accreditation, COA)
- Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc. (ACHC) (previously healthcare facilities accreditation program, HFAP)
- State substance abuse agencies, mental health departments, or departments of health
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) certification is awarded to organizations to show that they meet privacy and safeguarding compliance.
Is accreditation mandatory?
Accreditation is not mandatory for rehab centers or addiction treatment programs. Facilities have to meet certain state and federal requirements and staff must be qualified in their field. However, accreditation is an extensive review of service standards that goes beyond these requirements. It can be expensive and lengthy, meaning that some facilities choose not to undergo this process. [1]
According to SAMHSA’s 2020 N-SSATS report, 5.5% of facilities had no licensing, certification, or accreditation. [2]
Should I avoid rehabs that don’t have accreditation?
This is a decision that individuals can make based on personal choice. Rehab centers are not required to be accredited, and unaccredited facilities may still provide a good quality of care. However, the accreditation process ensures that a facility delivers a high standard of care using evidence-based practices and safety procedures.
The accreditation process
The accreditation process begins with a facility applying to an accrediting body. At this point, the body will provide information about the types of programs or services that can be accredited and the requirements needed to meet accreditation standards. The facility will then ensure they are ready for the accreditation survey, which may take several months to a year to prepare for.
Once the facility is ready, there will be a timeframe in which the accrediting body will send a professional with relevant experience to visit unannounced and conduct the survey. This will involve reviewing documentation, consulting with staff at the facility, observing treatment, and speaking with service users.
The survey will be an evaluation of the care and safety provided by the facility. This can include medication management, infection control, how staff qualifications and competencies are verified, and maintaining patient rights.
The survey will then be reviewed by the accrediting body. This can take up to two months, at which point the facility will be informed of the decision. [1][4]
If the facility is accredited, they may be given a 3-year accreditation. Some bodies provide shorter and longer periods of accreditation, depending on standards. For example, CARF also gives provisional and one-year accreditation for facilities that require improvements. [5]
