Expert Insights
I recently saw a new billboard campaign in Tulsa showing the real impact of drug overdoses. Families Supporting Families have put their tragedy towards advocacy by sharing pictures of their loved ones calling for more action by law enforcement and asking, “why are drug dealers getting away with murder?”
As someone who has lost friends to drug overdoses, I agree that we need to do more, but I think instead of a focus on law enforcement, shouldn’t we be focusing on providing support to family members struggling with their mental health and taking drugs? I believe that no one decides that drugs are the answer, but they are in enough pain to think drugs are the only answer.
We need more treatment centers and mental health providers, not just taking drugs off the streets. We know abolition doesn’t work but trauma-informed addiction treatment does.
~ Olivia Pennelle
How Do You Pay for Addiction Treatment in Tulsa?
While most centers accept self-pay and private insurance, people with addiction don’t always have access to those resources. Fortunately, there are various programs for people of all income levels. According to SAMHSA, in the 25 miles from the Tulsa city center, there are:2
14 facilities accept self-pay or cash-only
19 rehab programs accept Medicaid insurance
6 rehabs accept TRICARE military insurance
13 facilities accept private health insurance
5 facilities are IHS, tribal, and ITU funded rehabs
7 programs take state insurance other than Medicaid or Medicare
Regardless of your financial situation, there are rehab centers in or near Tulsa that offer financial support like sliding-scale payment options and scholarships for those who qualify.
Apply for a Rehab Scholarship: Rehab scholarships may be offered by programs with access to federal and SAMHSA block grants. Reach out to your desired rehab’s intake department to ask if they can offer you a rehab scholarship to pay for all or part of the cost of your recovery treatment services.
Find Sliding Scale Payment Options: A rehab that offers sliding scale payment options allow low-income participants to pay for their care based on a percentage of their income. This type of program is valuable if you have a job or other source of income, but don’t quite make enough to pay for the treatment program you need.
Choose a Program that Offers Payment Plans: Many rehabs, particularly those that are more exclusive, may offer payment plans instead of requesting the full cost of care up front. This might make affording treatment easier to accomplish. The facility might request a down payment on care, and there may be interest and administrative charges related to the payment plan.
Resources
- Oklahoma State Department of Health. (2022). Tulsa County Overdose Fact Sheet.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. (2022). Behavioral Health Services Treatment Locator.
- Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Office of Health Policy. (2021). National Survey Trends in Telehealth Use in 2021.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2022). Substance Use and SUDs in LGBTQ+ Populations.
- Oklahoma State Department of Health. (2022). Naloxone.
