Columbia Treatment Center does not take medical insurance, does not have contracts with managed care companies, and is, therefore, considered an out-of-network provider.  We have operated as a ‘self-pay’ organization for over 20 years, and strongly feel that this decision continues to be in the best interests of our clients.

Some of the reasons we do not take insurance are:

Diagnosis

Burdensome pre-authorization requirements imposed by managed care companies make it virtually impossible for outpatient substance abuse programs to get authorization to provide care unless a client has been diagnosed as having both a substance related disorder and a mental health condition.  Though assigning dual diagnoses may assist in obtaining initial coverage, it is a practice under intense scrutiny.  In order to substantiate that treatment is medically necessary, we often must diagnose you with a medical condition such as alcoholism or drug abuse, when in fact, you may not be either.

Reimbursement Rates

There is a wide gap between reimbursement rates by insurance companies and what it actually costs to deliver a service.  Columbia Treatment Center employs only highly qualified counselors and is unwilling to water down our services in order to make them fall into the reimbursement rates provided by insurance companies.

Confidentiality

Many insurance providers require detailed notes to be submitted with every claim.  For example, with every claim sent to Medicare, a complete accounting of the session is required.  The insurance carrier reviews the session notes, determines whether group or individual therapy is authorized, and how many sessions are authorized.  The counselors at Columbia Treatment Center feel very strongly that a treatment plan is most appropriately determined by your counselor and should include face-to-face interaction with you, the client.

If, after becoming a more informed consumer, you want to request reimbursement from your insurance company our staff will provide you with an invoice.  If there are any forms that your carrier requires in order to obtain pre-authorization, please bring them with you and give them to the front desk staff.  The form will completed for you and will be available for pickup within 4 business days.  Pre-authorization processes which are more time intensive, will be billed in 15-minute increments at the hourly rate of $125.