Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) in Seattle

What is a partial hospitalization program for substance use in Seattle?

A partial hospitalization program for addiction in Seattle is day treatment at ASAM level 2.5, which The ASAM Criteria from the American Society of Addiction Medicine describe as usually 20 or more hours of clinical services a week. People attend for most of the day and sleep at home or in a recovery residence.

Many hospital PHPs around Seattle treat mental health only, and their short days and stays of two or three weeks do not describe addiction care. Ask any program whether it offers PHP for substance use disorders. Programs that treat depression, trauma or other conditions alongside addiction appear among dual diagnosis listings in Seattle.

Washington licensing is handled by the State Department of Health, which licenses behavioral health agencies under chapter 246-341 of the Washington Administrative Code and certifies the addiction services each agency may provide. You can look up an agency’s license with the department before you enroll.

Each listing shows insurers, languages and populations served where the provider supplied them. Because coming off alcohol, sedatives or opioids can carry medical risk, get an assessment before PHP starts. Once the day program ends, many people step down to intensive outpatient care.

How is PHP different from IOP and residential treatment?

PHP sits between the two. You get more weekly hours than in intensive outpatient programs in Seattle, but you sleep off site, unlike in residential rehab in Seattle, which provides 24-hour care. Program length is not fixed. Clinicians set it from an assessment, review it as you progress, and many people step down to IOP afterward.

Seattle PHP days usually mean several hours of group and individual sessions on weekdays. Sound Transit Link light rail and King County Metro buses, including RapidRide lines, reach many programs. For people arriving from out of town, King County International Airport (Boeing Field) is the nearest airport to every PHP listing, a median of 11.8 miles away. At night, some people return home and others stay in a recovery residence. The Health Care Authority keeps a registry of certified residences.

Does withdrawal care need to come first?

Withdrawal from alcohol, sedatives or opioids can be medically risky, so ask for an assessment before starting PHP. King County contracts public withdrawal management, including a site on Beacon Hill, and detox listings in Seattle show other options.

Will Apple Health, Medicare or private insurance cover PHP in Seattle?

Washington Apple Health, the state Medicaid program run by the Health Care Authority, covers substance use treatment through managed care plans. Ask your plan whether it pays for PHP specifically. The plans offered in King County are Community Health Plan of Washington, Coordinated Care, Molina Healthcare of Washington, UnitedHealthcare and Wellpoint Washington. You can read more on our Medicaid page.

Medicare can cover partial hospitalization when program rules are met, so ask the admissions team whether it bills Medicare for this service. Medicare listings in Seattle are a place to start. Under federal parity law, private plans cannot limit substance use benefits more strictly than comparable medical benefits.

Where can I get help finding a program?

King County Client Services, run by the Department of Community and Human Services, helps people find an agency at 206-263-8997 or 1-800-790-8049. The Washington Recovery Help Line answers 24 hours at 1-866-789-1511. In a crisis, call or text 988, or call the Regional Crisis Line at 206-461-3222. For programs across Washington, see PHP in Washington, or browse all Seattle treatment listings.