Expert Insights
Witnessing my oldest son develop mental health issues at 17 was heartbreaking. Adding an alcohol use disorder made it even more devastating.
My son entered treatment at 18 and finished just before his 19th birthday. But he relapsed after a few months. Nothing in my parenting experience prepared me for the challenges of a dual diagnosis.
In Arkansas, where drug use rates rank 8th highest in the nation with nearly 14,000 individuals aged 18 to 26 in the state receive a dual diagnosis each year, according to WalletHub.
Treatment programs throughout the state need a stronger focus on aftercare to help reduce the risk of relapse, which is higher in people with co-occurring disorders.
~ Alizabeth Swain
Addiction News in Arkansas
How Much Does Drug Rehab Cost in Arkansas?
Arkansas is ranked 3rd nationwide in terms of addiction treatment affordability, with an average cost of addiction treatment of $53,036.
- Medical detox is the most expensive, with an average cost of $130,753
- Inpatient rehab in Arkansas costs an average of $46,801
- Outpatient rehab in Arkansas costs and average of $7,777
- Outpatient methadone treatment is the most affordable, with an average cost of $6,909
How to Pay for Rehab in Arkansas
As of 2020, there were over 170 rehab facilities across the state of Arkansas. These facilities accept several payment methods. Of those facilities, the following numbers reflect how many accept their respective payment methods:
151 accept self-payment or cash
106 offer sliding-scale fees for those without insurance
124 accept Medicaid insurance coverage
109 accept state funded insurance coverage
143 accept private health insurance
107 offer free or low-cost treatment
4 offer free treatment for all clients
13 accept tribal funding
Medicaid
Arkansas is one of the states that adopted Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. Their Medicaid program is known as Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me (ARHOME). You can qualify for ARHOME if your household income is 138% of the federal poverty line. You don’t need to pay fees or premiums if your income falls within that range. The state will buy insurance for you. The two companies that they buy from are Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ambetter. ARHOME covers substance use treatment and has additional support for people from rural parts of Arkansas who are dealing with addiction.
Medicare
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people over 65 or for people who are disabled. It covers addiction treatment at every level including residential drug and alcohol rehab. In Arkansas, some Medicare eligible people may qualify for discounts and cost savings plans. You can use a program called the Arkansas Senior Health Insurance Information Program to help connect you to the programs you’re eligible for.
Native American Health Benefits
If you’re a member of a federally recognized tribe, native Alaskan, or native Hawaiian who lives in Arkansas, you have several options for healthcare. You’re eligible to get health insurance from the Arkansas marketplace without having to pay premiums if you make up to 300% of the federal poverty level. You can also participate in free grant funded programs for treating substance use at the American Indian Center of Arkansas.
Military Insurance
You may be eligible for military benefits if you serve or have served in the armed forces. The Veterans Administration (VA) has every level of addiction treatment embedded within each of their health systems. If you get your health care at the VA, your primary care provider can refer you to the right service, or you may be able to self refer. If you have TRICARE, they also cover substance use treatment. You can get care with any of their network providers. In 2025 Arkansas will become part of the TRICARE West network, but prior to that it’s part of the TRICARE East network. If you have CHAMPVA benefits, you can also get substance use treatment, but you may need to check which facilities take your benefits. Some VA health centers take CHAMPVA and some services in the TRICARE network take CHAMPVA.
Private Insurance
Most treatment providers will allow you to pay them directly and many take private health insurance. You may be eligible for subsidized health insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. To have these subsidies applied to your health insurance, you should buy it through My Arkansas Insurance, the Arkansas health insurance marketplace. The following are major health insurers in Arkansas:
- Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield
- QualChoice Health Insurance
- Ambetter of Arkansas
- Aetna
- Cigna
- Wellcare
Other Low-Cost Options
Some providers use an income based sliding scale for people who pay them directly. They may not advertise this feature, so you should call and ask about this option. Addiction treatment centers in Arkansas that aren’t for profit are exempt from paying taxes and need to prove they benefit the community to earn their tax exempt status. Therefore, you may be able to get help from those agencies if you ask about it. Some faith-based organizations give free faith based addiction care.
Resources
- Directory of state funded addiction treatment centers that take people without insurance: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/DAABHS-CSAT-8-Funded-Providers-Map-and-Contact-Info_.pdf
- Methadone clinics in Arkansas that take Medicaid – BHG: https://www.bhgrecovery.com/locations?lat=35.20105&lon=-91.8318334&searched=Arkansas&providers=Medicaid
- Community Health Centers of Arkansas Member Organizations: https://www.chc-ar.org/arkansas-health-centers
- Arkansas Medicaid: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/medical-services/healthcare-programs/arhome/
- Medicare – Arkansas SHIIP – to help navigate Medicare application: https://insurance.arkansas.gov/site/assets/files/2100/2024quickguide_final_1.pdf
