Blog
Insights on launching and scaling insurance-contracted behavioral health programs.
February 25, 2026
Stop Struggling with Addiction Treatment Utilization Reviews in 4 Easy Steps
Learn how IOP and PHP programs can reduce insurance denials with better UR documentation, payer-specific templates, and a proven appeals strategy.
February 17, 2025
Why IOP/PHP Is the Most Accessible Behavioral Health Business You Can Open
Want to open an IOP/PHP program? Learn why intensive outpatient is the lowest-overhead, most accessible behavioral health business model — no beds, no 24/7 staff, real margins.
February 11, 2025
7 Financial Pitfalls That Sink New IOP/PHP Programs Before Year Two
The demand is real and the economics can be strong — but seven recurring financial pitfalls sink otherwise solid behavioral health programs before they reach steady-state census.
February 25, 2026
How to Bill Medicaid for Addiction Treatment in California: A Step-by-Step Guide for IOP/PHP Programs
Learn how to bill Medi-Cal for IOP and PHP addiction treatment in California — from provider enrollment and DMC-ODS contracting to CPT codes and prior authorization.
February 25, 2026
Your Complete Guide to Addiction Treatment Insurance Billing in Florida
Learn how to bill IOP and PHP services in Florida — CPT codes, prior authorization, Medicaid MCO requirements, denial codes, and compliance rules for SUD programs.
February 25, 2026
Insurance Denials Behavioral Health: What's Really Happening and How to Fight Back
Learn why insurance denials hit IOP and PHP programs hardest, the most common denial types, and how to build a denial management process that protects your revenue.
February 25, 2026
Ultimate Guide to Medical Billing Denial Codes: Causes, Solutions, and Prevention Strategies
Learn the most common medical billing denial codes in behavioral health — what causes CO-4, CO-50, PR-204 and how IOP/PHP programs can stop revenue loss.
February 25, 2026
Top 5 Coding Errors You're Making at Your Addiction Treatment Center
Discover the 5 most costly IOP and PHP billing errors draining treatment centers — and the exact fixes to reduce denials, avoid audits, and protect revenue.
February 25, 2026
ICD-10 Codes for Addiction Treatment Billing: What Every IOP/PHP Operator Needs to Know
Master ICD-10 codes for addiction treatment billing. Avoid claim denials at your IOP or PHP with the right SUD diagnosis codes, documentation tips, and payer insights.
February 25, 2026
Low Insurance Reimbursement Rates? 4 Reasons Your Addiction Treatment Center Isn't Getting Paid
Discover why your IOP or PHP is getting low insurance reimbursements — and how to fix it. Learn about bad contracts, documentation gaps, credentialing, and billing errors.
February 25, 2026
3 Secrets of Efficient Insurance Billing for Drug Rehabs
Discover 3 secrets to efficient insurance billing for drug rehabs — from authorization workflows and clean claim submission to contract management and denial appeals. Practical guidance for IOP and PHP operators.
February 25, 2026
The 5 Big KPIs You Need to Be Tracking for Addiction Treatment Billing
Track the 5 billing KPIs that determine your treatment center's cash flow: clean claim rate, days in AR, denial rate, net collection rate, and auth-to-admission ratio.
February 25, 2026
How Verification of Benefits (VOBs) Can Make or Break Your Addiction Treatment Center
Learn how to run accurate, documented VOBs for your IOP or PHP — and avoid the billing errors that quietly drain revenue before a patient ever starts treatment.
February 25, 2026
Denial Codes in Addiction Treatment & Mental Health Billing
Learn how to fight back on the most common denial codes in addiction treatment billing — CO16, CO50, CO97, and more. A practical guide for IOP and PHP operators on appeals, prevention, and building a denial management system.
February 25, 2026
The Ultimate Guide to Denial Codes in Addiction Treatment and Mental Health Billing
Learn the most common insurance denial codes hitting IOP and PHP programs — CO-4, CO-11, CO-50, CO-97, PR-204 — and how to prevent them before they cost you.
February 25, 2026
Mental Health Reimbursement 2026: What Clinicians and IOP/PHP Operators Actually Need to Know
Mental health reimbursement has shifted in 2026. Here's what IOP/PHP operators need to know about telehealth rules, parity enforcement, VBC, and protecting your revenue cycle.
February 25, 2026
Why Behavioral Health Billing Is More Complicated Than Medical Billing
Learn the CPT codes, documentation requirements, and billing strategies IOP and PHP programs need to get paid — and avoid costly audits.
February 25, 2026
IOP/PHP Regulatory Requirements Every Investor Needs to Understand Before Writing a Check
Before investing in an IOP or PHP, understand the real regulatory risks — licensing timelines, credentialing gaps, state variation, and due diligence red flags.
February 25, 2026
Post-Acquisition Value Creation in Behavioral Health
Learn how to create real value after acquiring a behavioral health IOP or PHP, from billing audits to payer renegotiation and clinical culture strategy.
February 25, 2026
IOP Valuation Multiples Explained: What Your Program Is Actually Worth
Learn what IOP and PHP programs actually sell for in 2025 — EBITDA multiples, payer mix impact, and what buyers look for in behavioral health M&A transactions.
February 25, 2026
Due Diligence Checklist: Evaluating Treatment Center Acquisitions
The real due diligence checklist for buying a treatment center — covering payer contracts, licensing, staff retention, and the red flags most buyers miss.
February 25, 2026
Behavioral Health Investment 101: A Guide for Non-Healthcare Investors
Discover what investors need to know about IOP and PHP behavioral health programs — from revenue cycle and returns to regulatory risk and MSO deal structures.
February 24, 2026
How Sandstone Care Expanded to 3 States (And What IOP Operators Can Learn From It)
Learn how Sandstone Care expanded IOPs across 3 states — and what clinicians can copy. Licensing, credentialing, and operations strategy that actually works.
February 24, 2026
Turning Your Recovery Story Into a Treatment Program: What It Actually Takes to Open an IOP or PHP
Lived experience can make or break your treatment program — if you know how to use it. What clinicians need to know before opening an IOP or PHP.
February 24, 2026
How to Find the Right Clinical Director for Your IOP/PHP Program
Learn how to find, hire, and structure a clinical director for your IOP or PHP program — covering credentials, compensation, equity models, and red flags to avoid.
February 24, 2026
From Recovery to Revenue: Building Your Treatment Center
Learn the real startup costs, step-by-step launch sequence, and common pitfalls of opening an IOP or PHP treatment center — from a behavioral health MSO.
February 24, 2026
Lessons from 30 Serial Operators
What serial IOP/PHP operators know that first-timers don't — census management, payer mix strategy, staffing models, and the mindset shifts that drive real scale.
February 24, 2026
How to Open an IOP/PHP Without Risking Your Savings: The Capital + Support Model
Learn how clinicians can open an IOP or PHP with less financial risk using the capital + support model. ForwardCare covers startup costs, licensing, and credentialing.
February 24, 2026
Should I Open an IOP/PHP Alone or With a Partner? Solo vs. MSO Support Model
Thinking about opening an IOP or PHP program? Compare the solo vs. MSO-supported route — costs, timelines, tradeoffs, and which path fits your situation.
February 24, 2026
What Is an MSO in Behavioral Health — and Why Are Clinicians Partnering With Them to Open IOP/PHP Programs?
Learn how a behavioral health MSO handles licensing, credentialing, billing, and compliance so clinicians can open IOP/PHP programs without going it alone.
February 24, 2026
The Biggest Mistakes First-Time IOP/PHP Owners Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Avoid the 7 costliest mistakes when opening an IOP or PHP program — from cash flow gaps to payer mix errors. A practical guide for first-time behavioral health owners.
February 24, 2026
How long does it take to open an IOP/PHP center? A Realistic Timeline
How long does it take to open an IOP or PHP? Get a realistic 6–14 month timeline breakdown — from licensing and credentialing to your first patient.
February 24, 2026
IOP/PHP Insurance Reimbursement Rates: What Payers Actually Pay Per Session
IOP and PHP insurance reimbursement rates explained — commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare per diem ranges, billing codes, and how to build a realistic revenue model.
February 24, 2026
How to Open an IOP/PHP Program With No Business Experience: What Clinicians Get Wrong (and Right)
Learn how to open an IOP/PHP program with no business experience. Real talk on what clinicians get wrong (and right) when launching a treatment center.
February 24, 2026
What Credentials Do You Need to Open an IOP/PHP Center? (You Don't Need to Be a Doctor)
Learn what credentials you actually need to open an IOP or PHP center — from clinical director licenses to state facility licensure, accreditation, and insurance credentialing.
February 24, 2026
Why Sober living houses have an easy transition to iop/php
Sober living operators have a built-in advantage when launching an IOP or PHP. Learn how to transition from housing to clinical services, licensing, and insurance reimbursement.
February 24, 2026
"The behavioral health demand gap" - Why there aren't enough IOP/PHP programs and what that means for new operator
61.5M adults need mental health care — and most can't access it. Here's why the IOP/PHP shortage persists and what it means for operators entering the market.
February 24, 2026
IOP/PHP vs. Residential Rehab: Startup Costs Compared (Full Breakdown)
IOP/PHP startup costs often run roughly $150K–$500K vs. $1M–$5M+ for residential rehab, depending on market and scope. See the full side-by-side cost breakdown and learn why outpatient is often the smarter first move.
February 23, 2026
Why Clinicians Are Leaving Group Practice to Open IOP/PHP Programs
Clinicians are leaving group practice to open IOP and PHP programs — and the math makes it clear why. Learn how a single 10-client IOP can generate $720K+ in annual revenue, what it takes to get started, and how to make the leap from clinician to clinical business owner.