Every program sounds good on the phone. This worksheet puts the answers to the same questions side by side, one column per program. Fill it in during the admissions and insurance calls, cross off any program that hits a dealbreaker below, and choose from what’s left.
What goes on the worksheet?
Print it or copy it into a spreadsheet, keep the 20 admissions-call questions next to it, and skip any row that doesn’t apply.
| Field | Program A | Program B | Program C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date called, earliest start | |||
| Level of care (matches the assessment?) | |||
| License number; covers this level and address? | |||
| Accreditation, by whom | |||
| Doctor, nurse, psychiatric prescriber hours | |||
| Addiction medications started, continued or arranged | |||
| Therapies; one-on-one hours weekly | |||
| Family program, how often | |||
| How length of stay is decided | |||
| Plan after a return to use | |||
| In network here? Plan call reference number | |||
| Deductible, out-of-pocket max, coinsurance | |||
| Cost in writing? Prior authorization, days approved | |||
| Aftercare plan, housing, transportation |
How do we fill it in?
Look up the license and accreditation yourself through your state agency (listed on FindTreatment.gov), The Joint Commission and CARF.123
Get the number from the program’s own website, not a search ad. The FTC warns that some businesses advertise under real centers’ names with their own phone numbers.4
For the money rows, call your plan yourself and note who said what, and when. A benefits check isn’t a promise to pay.
Which answers rule a program out?
One is enough. See also signs a rehab isn’t legitimate.
Cross a program off if:
How do we choose between the programs left?
Rank what’s left by how well each matches the assessment, then by family involvement and aftercare, and only then by cost and distance. Amenities aren’t on SAMHSA’s list of quality signs.5
Frequently asked questions
What if a program won't answer some rows?
Write “would not say” in the box. That tells you something too.
Who makes the final choice?
An adult going voluntarily chooses for themselves, so bring them two programs you’ve already checked. More in how to find and choose a program.
Sources
- SAMHSA, FindTreatment.gov — State Agencies. findtreatment.gov/state-agencies — accessed Oct 2026
- The Joint Commission — Search for Substance Use Disorder Treatment Providers. jointcommission.org/en-us/accreditation/behavioral-health-care-and-hum… — accessed Oct 2026
- CARF International — Find a Provider. carf.org/find-provider/ — accessed Oct 2026
- Federal Trade Commission — How to avoid scams when looking for drug treatment (August 2025). consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/08/how-avoid-scams-when-looking-… — accessed Oct 2026
- SAMHSA — Quality Treatment for Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol (last updated 2023). samhsa.gov/find-support/learn-about-treatment/finding-quality-treatmen… — accessed Oct 2026
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — No Surprises: Understand your rights against surprise medical bills. cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/no-surprises-understand-your-rights-again… — accessed Oct 2026
- 18 U.S.C. § 220 — Illegal remunerations for referrals to recovery homes, clinical treatment facilities, and laboratories (Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act, 2018). uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=%28title%3A18+section%3A220+edition%3A… — accessed Oct 2026