Rehab should feel like a safe space, where you’re supported, listened to and your recovery comes first. Many addiction treatment centers do place your recovery at the forefront. These quality rehab centers employ experienced professionals, offer a robust treatment program and apply a variety of therapies to help you find a life free from addiction. While success rates of different approaches and programs vary, the positive news is, long-term studies have found that treatment works¹

At the same time, there are a few rehab industry players who don’t have patients’ best interests at heart. From the Florida shuffle² to fake hotlines, different exploitative practices have been brought to the light in recent years. It’s important to be wary of these malpractices to protect yourself from drug rehab scams, which unfortunately exist.

Certain markers can help you determine whether an addiction treatment center is using unethical marketing practices or is taking part in questionable schemes. On the other hand, there are also signs that indicate a rehab center is legitimate and reputable. Here, we help you identify both the red flags and the green lights.

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Tequesta, Florida, United States

Futures Recovery Healthcare

(3)

Futures of Recovery Healthcare specializes in treating adults 30 years and older suffering from substance use, mental health disorders, and co-occurring disorde...

$29,500 - $82,500

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Vail Valley, Colorado, United States

All Points North Lodge

All Points North Lodge is a comprehensive wellness and personal development campus specializing in addiction, trauma, and mental health.

$49,000-$200,000

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Malibu & Los Angeles, California

Oro House Recovery

Oro House provides compassionate treatment focused on connection and a full continuum of services. Voted California's Best Addiction Treatment Center of 2021 by...

$30,000-90,000/month

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Canton, Massachusetts, United States

Bedrock Recovery Center

(1)

Located on 6 acres of greenery, Bedrock Recovery Center is a hotel-style rehab providing trauma-informed and evidence-based treatment plans for adults.

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San Clemente, California, United States

Chapters Capistrano

Located in sunny Southern California, Chapters Capistrano provides holistic, evidence-based treatment for substance abuse and addiction.

$39,500 (Insurance Accepted)

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Los Angeles, California, United States

Hollywood Hills Recovery

(3)

Nestled in the private hills of Los Angeles, Hollywood Hills Recovery is a boutique substance abuse treatment center offering holistic care.

$30,000+/month (Insurance Accepted)

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Houston, Texas, United States

J. Flowers Health Institute

(13)

J. Flowers Health Institute provides personalized, concierge care, for busy professionals, adolescents and young adults, and highly complex individuals.

$49,500 - $129,000

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Raymond, Illinois, United States

Lincoln Recovery

Located in the countryside, Lincoln Recovery takes an evidence-based approach to treatment, offering onsite detox, individualized programming and luxurious priv...

$25,000 - $35,000

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Dana Point, California, United States

Monarch Shores

Monarch Shores offers luxury housing with beautiful ocean views and individualized addiction treatment in Southern California.

$34,500

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Malibu, California, United States

Rise in Malibu

(1)

A 5-star Yelp-rated Luxury Treatment Center in Malibu, offering a majestic ocean view, 1-1 doctorate-level therapy sessions, and private ensuite rooms.

$90,000 (Insurance Accepted)

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Tucson, Arizona, United States

Sierra Tucson

Using an innovative treatment program called The Sierra Model, Sierra Tucson has been rated one of the region’s top-ranking hospitals by U.S. News.

$20,000-$45,000

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Newport Beach, California, United States

Sierra by the Sea

With multiple facilities strategically located on magnificent Newport Beach, Sierra by the Sea provides gender-specific, primary and long-term treatment.

$16,500-$33,000

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Ashby, Massachusetts, United States

Spring Hill Recovery Center

A 70-acre secluded retreat offering tailored treatment plans, evidence-based therapies, and a family-like atmosphere in the Massachusetts woodlands.

$22,000 - $31,000 (Insurance Accepted)

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Florida, USA

Tikvah Lake Recovery

Tikvah Lake Recovery is an extremely personalized executive treatment center for those who seek the ultimate in treatment, privacy, and luxurious comfort.

$60,000–$85,000 per month

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Hollywood, Florida, United States

United Recovery Project

A multi-structured program that offers gender-specific residential housing and personal treatment plans.

$30,000-$60,000 (Insurance Accepted)

Watch Out for Common Addiction Treatment Center Scams

If you’re struggling with addiction or mental health issues, choosing to get help is a big, courageous step to take. During your search, you deserve to receive unbiased information that will help you make an educated decision regarding your recovery. Unfortunately, not all rehab recommendations are unbiased and some treatment centers engage in unethical marketing practices.

Patient Brokering: What Is It and How to Spot It

Patient brokering is when someone receives a commission to actively recruit and refer patients to a specific treatment facility.

How Does Online Patient Brokering Work?
A fake website or online ad includes a hotline that directs your call to a call center. A call center agent (not a treatment provider or dedicated admissions specialist) receives compensation for each referral they place. Treatment centers involved in these kickback schemes will place a bid for patients and agents will refer patients to the highest bidding center.

In short, call center agents pose as caregivers and sell leads to the highest bidding rehab.

Does Patient Brokering Only Exist Online?
It’s not just call center agents who receive commissions for referring patients. There have been instances of therapists and doctors receiving a cut for referring someone to a specific treatment facility.³

Is Patient Brokering Legal?
In the United States, the Anti-Kickback Statute prohibited referrals from any source to federal-supported healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE.

Since the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act⁴ was passed in 2018, it’s now “a crime to knowingly and willfully solicit, receive, pay, or offer payment for referrals to a recovery home or clinical treatment facility”, according to congress.gov. This means that referring patients to an addiction treatment facility in exchange for a referral fee is illegal nationwide in the United States. Penalties can include a fine of up to $200,000 and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

In the United Kingdom, patient brokering violates the 7 Principles of Public Life,⁵ a set of principles applied to anyone who delivers public services, including those in the healthcare sector. On top of that, The General Medical Council (GMC) prohibits doctors from receiving referral payments.

How to Protect Yourself Against Addiction Treatment Scams

In 2017, Google pulled an AdWords purge and announced that they would stop accepting ads from rehabs centers. This was huge news–many fraudulent treatment centers relied on Google Ads.⁶

While Google’s announcement marks a step in the right direction, there are also ways you can proactively protect yourself against addiction treatment scams:

• • Watch out for free helplines. A website may appear to provide unbiased information about treatment centers but then require you to call a hotline. Oftentimes, these hotlines are a source of referral fees, meaning agents receive compensation for placing someone in a specific facility.
  • Ask the rehab center for specific information. During your initial call with a rehab, see if their admissions team can answer specific questions about the center and their program. If you’re unsure what to ask, we’ve detailed questions to ask when calling a residential treatment center. Be wary if their answers are vague or if they don’t specify details about their program. You can also be upfront and ask the treatment center about their stance on referral fees.
  • Be upfront with your therapist or doctor. If your therapist or doctor recommended a treatment facility to you, you can politely ask them if they’ve received any benefits or compensation for the recommendation. Feel free to respectfully voice your concerns about the referral process.

  Look for These Signs of a Legitimate Addiction Treatment Center

  While it’s unfortunate that a few bad apples exist in the rehab industry, there are a number of good addiction treatment centers that have your best interest at heart. Below are some telling signs that a treatment center is more likely to be legitimate.

  They Have a Positive Reputation

  There are many ways to check a rehab center’s reputation. You can start by asking around. See if your primary care physician or psychiatrist has an opinion on a program you’re interested in. If you’re calling different centers, you can check if the center you’re looking at is in good standing with other treatment facilities. Read their online reviews, both on their own website and on Google.

  They Have Valid Accreditations and Affiliations

  Two national organizations accredit treatment providers in the U.S. These are the Joint Commission⁷ and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).⁸ Check to see if a rehab’s website displays these accreditation logos. You should also check directly with the accrediting body.

  It’s usually a positive sign if a rehab is a member of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). NAATP’s code of ethics⁹ prohibits referral payments.

  They Employ Qualified Staff

  Rehabs in the U.S. are required to employ addiction treatment professionals who meet certain licensing or credential requirements, depending on the state. You should look through a treatment center’s team webpage to see if they employ licensed clinicians. Our deep-dive on the qualifications of rehab employees can help you pinpoint what job titles or credentials to look for.

  They Offer Specific Details About Their Program

  Usually, reputable rehab centers are happy to answer specific questions about their center or program. They’ll give you a sample schedule so you can see what a day, or week, in their treatment program looks like. They have detailed information regarding the admissions process. They’re transparent about costs and have no qualms about discussing insurance coverage.

  Start Your Search for a Reputable Rehab

  The decision to ask for help for substance use issues is brave–it’s one that marks the beginning of a transformative life journey. In your search for a rehab, you deserve to receive unbiased information in order to make a knowledgeable decision about treatment. By being aware of industry malpractices, you can take steps to protect yourself from rehab scams. If you look for rehabs using an unbiased platform, you’re more likely to find reputable treatment centers with programs that could be a good fit for you.

  Start your search by browsing our collection of luxury rehab centers. Each center listed on our site meets specific luxuryrehabs.com luxury and quality criteria.

  Note: LuxuryRehabs.com financially supports the site through sponsors, who pay for placements which are clearly marked throughout the site. We do not and have never accepted a fee for referring someone to a particular center.

By 

Kayla Gill

Kayla Gill

Writer

Kayla currently serves as LuxuryRehabs.com’s Content Director, providing treatment seekers with the knowledge they need to make informed choices about their recovery.

| Published October 1st, 2021|  Professionally Reviewed By 

Rajnandini Rathod

 

 Reviewed by Rajnandini Rathod on September 30, 2021

Rajnandini is a psychologist, keen on bringing awareness and uplifting the stigma attached to mental health in India. She completed her Master’s in Psychology with considerable experience with people with addiction problems.