We have some good news on the legal front for patients and advocates of mental health and addiction treatment in New Jersey: New legislation signed by acting governor Tahesha Wey helps to protect patients and support recovery in both in and outpatient treatment in Marlton NJ.
“It is important to protect individuals dealing with addiction,” said Acting Governor Way according to a press release from the governor’s office. “We must ensure proper treatment without exploitation by holding providers accountable and implementing strong safeguards. Too often, vulnerable people are targeted by those who prioritize profit over care, which is unacceptable.”
The new regulations are designed to stop predatory patient brokering. This is a practice where individuals or facilities earn kickbacks from referrals to treatment. The laws also prohibit deceptive advertising from treatment programs. These reforms help ensure those seeking help receive the safest, most ethical, and most effective care possible.
Here’s what’s in the new law and how it may impact you and your loved ones.
What are PHP and IOP Programs?
Before the updates, it’s important to understand what PHP and IOP programs are.
PHP programs are Partial Hospitalization Programs. These programs offer treatment for substance abuse disorder five to six days a week, while allowing participants to live at home or in sober housing.
IOP programs, like our IOP in Marlton, NJ, are similar to PHP programs as participants live at home or in sober living, but are less time-intensive. They generally offer treatment for three to five days a week for fewer hours to allow patients to keep up with work, school, or other life necessities.
Whether someone needs PHP, IOP, or another treatment option should always be discussed with a therapist.
What’s Included in NJ’s New Addiction Treatment Legislation
Acting governor Wey’s new policy introduces several reforms aimed at transparency, access, accountability, and safety in outpatient mental healthcare like PHP’s and IOP’s in New Jersey.
Crackdown on Patient Brokering
The first bill passed by the legislature and signed by acting governor Wey updates existing law on how patient referrals to substance abuse disorder treatment facilities are handled. It provides stiffer penalties for those who receive kickbacks for referring patients to a certain facility or for treatment based on financial incentives rather than actual need.
The new bill makes patient brokering a third degree offense, and imposes a penalty of $50,000 to those caught and convicted. The bill applies to inpatient and outpatient facilities, as well as other services like sober living homes.
The bill is a direct response to the opioid epidemic currently afflicting New Jersey, and helps to ensure patients struggling from these debilitating diseases are not taken advantage of at significant times of need and vulnerability.
“People battling addiction should not have to worry whether they’re being manipulated for someone else’s financial benefit, something that is not only unethical but also deeply harmful,” said Assemblyman Avi Schnall according to a press release.
Prohibition on Use of Deceptive Marketing Practices
The second bill makes sure addiction treatment facilities in Marlton, NJ are not able to use deceptive advertising practices to sell their services to vulnerable people. The new bill requires all advertising from treatment providers to be “accurate, complete, and transparent about the services offered”, as well as their location, the identity of the provider, and their affiliations.
This helps ensure patients know exactly what they are getting into when entering into treatment, what services they will be receiving, and who will be providing them. This transparency is essential to patients understanding the help that can be provided.
“When someone is in crisis, they deserve to feel confident that the information they receive is reliable,” said Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie according to a press release.
What This Means for PHP and IOPs in Marlton, NJ
For honest treatment providers, like Tribe Intensive it means less competition from unethical PHPs and IOPs in NJ. If treatment centers are above board, treating their patients with honesty and respect, and not breaking any laws, little will change. Unscrupulous providers, however, will be forced to change their habits or face hefty fines or worse.
For patients, these new laws mean they can be more confident that the care they are getting at PHP’s and IOP’s are honest, valuable and necessary.
These laws mean patients can know they aren’t being brokered to a treatment facility for profit, receiving services they don’t need, or receiving the wrong services because someone stood to make money from these decisions. It also means when researching facilities patients and prospective patients can be confident they are getting good information and can be comfortable in what they are learning.
Need Help With Addiction? Contact Us Now
Joining an IOP or PHP in Marlton, NJ, or anyone else, can be a big step. Getting sober is almost a universally life-changing experience, and you want to know you or your loved ones are entering into an honest, transparent program.
That’s where we come in. For many years we have been serving the Marlton area. Call us today at (856) 267- 5699 for honest, straightforward treatment.
Sources:
Acting Governor Way Signs Legislation to Protect Individuals Seeking Substance Use Treatment. State of New Jersey.
Examining Advertising and Marketing Practices Within the Substance Use Treatment Industry. US House Hearing, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
