Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program
SA Intensive Outpatient Program (SAIOP) means structured individual and group addiction activities and services that are provided at an outpatient program designed to assist adult and adolescent consumers to begin recovery and learn skills for recovery maintenance. The program is offered at least 3 hours a day, at least 3 days a week, with no more than 2 consecutive days between offered services, and distinguishes between those individuals needing no more than 19 hours of structured services per week (ASAM Level II.1). The recipient must be in attendance for a minimum of 3 hours a day in order to bill this service. SAIOP services shall include a structured program consisting of, but not limited to, the following services:
- Individual counseling and support;
- Group counseling and support;
- Family counseling, training or support;
- Biochemical assays to identify recent drug use (e.g. urine drug screens);
- Strategies for relapse prevention to include community and social support systems in treatment;
- Life skills;
- Crisis contingency planning;
- Disease Management; and
- Treatment support activities that have been adapted or specifically designed for persons with physical disabilities, or persons with co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance abuse/dependence or mental retardation/developmental disability and substance abuse/dependence.
SAIOP can be designed for homogenous groups of recipients e.g., pregnant women, and women and their children; individuals with co-occurring MH/SA disorders; individuals with HIV; or individuals with similar cognitive levels of functioning. Group counseling shall be provided each day SAIOP services are offered. SAIOP includes case management to arrange, link or integrate multiple services as well as assessment and reassessment of the recipient’s need for services. SAIOP services also informs the recipient about benefits, community resources, and services; assists the recipient in accessing benefits and services; arranges for the recipient to receive benefits and services; and monitors the provision of services. Consumers may be residents of their own home, a substitute home, or a group care setting; however, the SAIOP must be provided in a setting separate from the consumer’s residence. The program is provided over a period of several weeks or months.
