| Definitions of Treatment Services |
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Medicaid- The term Medicaid often evokes stares of bewilderment from many and is easily confused with other medical assistance services with similar names. Simply put, Medicaid is a program that pays for medical assistance for certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources.
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Medicare- In the United States, politicians debated for decades on how to best provide a nationwide health insurance program for its elderly citizens. Though discussion began as early as 1912 and the first health insurance bill was introduced to congress in 1935, it wasn’t until 1965 that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill to establish what we now know as Medicare.
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Mix of mental health and substance abuse services- A study done in 2002 found that there were five million adults who had a serious mental illness, and had substance abuse problems. Almost 30 percent of all adults with serious mental health illnesses also use drugs. Other statistics show that 53 percent of substance abusers also have at least one mental illness.
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Outpatient- Outpatient drug rehabilitation means that a person does not live in the facility for treatment, but come to the facility for classes, visits with specialists or group meetings. Outpatient drug rehabilitation centers are more long-term and patients can attend programs for as long as needed. A variety of techniques and program intensity levels are used to achieve this goal.
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Payment assistance- The growing costs of mental health care are staggering. Statistics show that a large portion of mentally ill individuals who need help aren’t getting it due to the costs involved with therapy or counseling. For that reason, many never even step foot into a hospital, mental health clinic, or therapist’s office, even though there are a number of options available for payment and payment assistance.
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Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders- Quite often, individuals suffering from substance abuse are also afflicted with some type of mental illness. In the mental health community, these simultaneously occurring illnesses have come to be known as co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders.
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Private health insurance- Securing private health insurance can be confusing, especially if you’re not covered by your employer or if the employer offers a number of options from which to choose. Determining which plans are best for you and/or your family is difficult.
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Seniors/older adults- The senior population is the fastest growing in the country, thanks to the baby boom of the post-World War II era and modern technology which allows us to enjoy longer and more fulfilling lives. Still, facts show that a large portion of seniors or older adults suffer from various mental health disorders that should be treated through the use of professional counseling or therapy. However, many view the use of professional therapy as a crutch or weakness, so mental health problems continue to grow in great numbers.
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Sliding fee scale (Fee is based on income and other factors.)- For many individuals who suffer mental health problems, the cost of receiving proper counseling or therapy prohibits them from seeking the help that they so greatly need. Throughout the past several decades, the cost of mental health treatment has skyrocketed and more and more individuals suffer from lack of proper therapy.
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Substance abuse treatment- Substance abuse treatment is often individualized to each patient, but there are a few steps that each patient needs to take to become drug free. The first of these steps in recognizing the problem. Denial used to be mistakenly believed to be part of the drug addiction symptoms, but recent research is showing it is not. People trying to help a person accept that they have a substance abuse problem need to show empathy, and respect.
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