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When you think of Florida, you probably think of sunny beaches and beautiful sands. However, those familiar with rehabilitation programs may have a more sour view of Florida. The Sunshine State has pioneered a new type of rehabilitation program known as “the Florida model.” This model, which was supposed to be a new solution for those struggling with addiction, has led to overdoses, fraud, and broken families.
Let’s examine the Florida model rehab programs, their associated problems, and the changes being made now.
The Origins of the Florida Model in Rehab
The Florida Model is named this because this new approach to rehab originated in Florida. The New York Times describes this new type of program as “rehab without frills.” The program’s ultimate goal was to provide more affordable rehab services so cost wouldn’t be a barrier to getting help. Some estimates say at least 31% of people with substance abuse disorder don’t get treatment due to costs.
With the Florida Model, patients go to a residential building to receive therapy during the day, usually group therapy. At night, they live in sober living homes, where they pay rent for their residency. The rent at these homes isn’t typically covered by insurance but is roughly $400 a night.
This separation of treatment and residency makes overall rehab costs much more affordable. In addition to being cheaper, the Florida Model was supposed to offer other benefits, such as:
- Patients can stay in treatment longer — as long as they need — without worrying about budget constraints.
- Patients would continue to work and live normally while in treatment, making the integration back to normal life seamless.
- Having to pay rent (and other fees) would instill a sense of responsibility in patients, motivating recovery.
The Downfall of Florida’s Rehab Industry
Unfortunately, while the Florida Model seemed promising, it only brought problems. It all started when some greedy individuals realized the revenue potential of these sober homes. A boom in these Florida Model clinics and sober living homes occurred in 2010. The barrier to entry for these businesses was low, and people saw there was money to be made.
One clinic manager said, “There was a time last year when a lot of the guys who owned clinics and sober living homes were driving a Cadillac Escalade or a Mercedes-Benz.” The money was being made through fraudulent insurance claims that charged exorbitant amounts for regular, day-to-day expenses, such as thousands of dollars for urine tests or counseling sessions that never took place.
Entrepreneur consultant Simon Karmarkar said in 2017, “That’s all I’m seeing right now, all over the country. [Sober living homes are] lucrative; it doesn’t require staffing or licensure. It’s growing exponentially.”
Sadly, it went beyond taking financial advantage of addicts and insurance companies. A problem known as “the Florida shuffle” soon became apparent.
What is the Florida shuffle? Patients were offered free rent at the sober living homes if they attended specific rehabilitation facilities. Those facilities would run up the patient’s insurance claims — often without the patient realizing it. Then, once the insurance company became suspicious or started denying claims, the patient would be moved to a new facility where the process could begin again. Because the insurance company was getting claims from a different facility, it wouldn’t raise red flags for a while, allowing the cycle to continue.
However, this shuffling was highly harmful to patients. They were often moved around so much that their family and loved ones didn’t know where they were. Additionally, the constant movement disrupted their healing and usually set them back in the recovery process.
It didn’t stop there. The owners didn’t want the patients to get better, since there was so much profit to be made in these operations. After all, the longer individuals stayed in the facilities, the more insurance claims could be filed. In some extreme cases, these owners provided the patients with substances to ensure they’d continue in their addiction.
Kenneth Chatman was one man who was caught and sentenced to 27 years in prison for this type of scheme. According to the U.S. Justice Department, he was found guilty of health care fraud, money laundering, and providing substances to the patients of his sober homes and treatment centers.
In the end, the poorly run treatment centers of Chatman and others caused countless people to overdose and even die because they didn’t get the help they needed.
Current Standards and Practices in Florida Rehab Centers
Since the many problems came to light, Florida (and other states) have stepped up to add regulations to this industry. In 2017, Florida unanimously passed a law adding regulations to sober living homes and rehabilitation centers, which must now follow strict mandates. Florida is one of the most regulated areas for rehab now.
Ryan Hampton, activist and author of American Fix: Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis — and How to End It, said in an interview, “Florida actually cleaned up its act. All of those bad actors from Florida have moved to California.”
Now, when people seek treatment in Florida, they can feel more confident they’ll get the necessary help. Of course, as in any industry, some bad providers might still exist. However, those who do their research and sign up with a reputable organization should receive proper care.
The Florida Model of Rehab Continues
The Florida Model isn’t to blame for what happened. Individuals who saw a money-making opportunity abused an industry with little regulation.
The Florida Model for rehab can — and does — work. Florida Association of Recovery Residences chairman John Lehman says, “The Florida Model can work … With the Florida Model, people learn from peer leaders — usually former addicts who are now sober — and then become peer leaders themselves.”
Florida is regaining the trust of its locals with its more controlled, regulated approach to rehabilitation, and with that may come redemption for the Florida Model of rehab, too.
Your Trusted Florida Rehab
FHE Health is a licensed rehab treatment facility that hires experienced, educated medical professionals to help patients. We have a track record of helping thousands of patients with substance abuse and mental health problems. Our teaching institution proudly partners with some of Florida’s most well-known universities.
If you or a loved one needs help with substance abuse, know that FHE Health is a trusted resource that uses evidence-based treatments in recovery. Contact us today to learn more.
