What Is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Complete Guide to Intensive Outpatient Mental Health Treatment

A partial hospitalization program is a structured, intensive mental health treatment program that provides 4-8 hours of therapeutic services daily without requiring patients to stay overnight.

PHPs bridge the gap between inpatient hospitalization and standard outpatient care, offering comprehensive mental health treatment while allowing patients to return home each evening.

This intensive treatment approach serves individuals who need more support than weekly therapy sessions but don’t require 24-hour medical supervision of an inpatient stay.

What This Guide Covers

This comprehensive guide explains what is a partial hospitalization program, from initial assessment through treatment program completion, covering program structure, insurance coverage, different treatment tracks, and practical considerations for accessing care. We’ll focus on what patients and families need to know when considering PHP as a treatment option.

Who This Is For

This guide is designed for individuals considering mental health treatment options, family members researching appropriate care for a loved one, and healthcare professionals seeking to understand PHP referral criteria. Whether you’re stepping down from inpatient care or stepping up from outpatient therapy, you’ll find practical guidance for navigating partial hospitalization.

Why This Matters

Understanding partial hospitalization programs helps you choose the appropriate treatment intensity for mental health recovery. PHPs offer a crucial middle ground that can prevent unnecessary hospitalization while providing more intensive support than traditional outpatient care, often with better insurance coverage than extended inpatient stays.

What You’ll Learn:

• How partial hospitalization programs work and who they serve
• Different types of PHPs for specific mental health conditions
• Insurance coverage details and out-of-pocket costs
• The treatment process from referral to completion
• How to determine if PHP is the right level of care

Understanding What is a Partial Hospitalization Program

Partial hospitalization programs provide intensive outpatient mental health treatment, typically involving 20+ hours of structured therapeutic services per week across 4-5 days. Unlike inpatient care, patients in partial hospitalization return home each evening, maintaining connections to family, work, and community while receiving comprehensive treatment.

A typical partial hospitalization program combines individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and skill-building activities within a structured environment overseen by a multidisciplinary treatment team including psychiatrists, therapists, and specialized PHP staff.

How PHP Differs from Inpatient Care

Partial hospitalization serves as an effective step-down option following inpatient treatment or as an alternative to hospitalization for adult patients who are medically stable but require intensive intervention. While inpatient care provides 24-hour medical supervision, PHP allows patients to practice newly learned skills in their home environment while maintaining the support of intensive daily programming.

This approach connects the structured support of hospital-based treatment with the real-world application opportunities that promote long-term recovery and prevent the need for future inpatient stays.

How PHP Differs from Standard Outpatient Treatment

Standard outpatient care typically involves 1-2 therapy sessions per week, while partial hospitalization provides 4-8 hours daily of individual and group therapy, medication management, and specialized programming. This higher level of care intensity makes PHP appropriate for patients whose symptoms require more frequent monitoring and intervention than weekly appointments can provide.

The comprehensive nature of partial hospitalization programs allows treatment teams to address multiple aspects of mental health diagnosis simultaneously, offering psychotherapy, medication adjustments, and skill development within the same treatment program.

• Understanding these fundamental differences helps identify when PHP represents the most appropriate treatment level for specific mental health needs and recovery goals.

Types of Partial Hospitalization Programs

Many treatment centers offer specialized partial hospitalization programs tailored to specific mental health conditions, ensuring that patients receive targeted interventions designed for their particular diagnosis and individual needs.

Mood Disorders Track

Mood disorders partial hospitalization programs focus on treating depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders through intensive daily programming. Patients typically meet with a psychiatrist 2-3 times per week for medication management while participating in specialized group therapy sessions targeting mood regulation and symptom management.

These programs generally run for approximately 10 business days, emphasizing skill-building techniques such as dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral approaches that help patients manage mood symptoms and prevent relapse.

Eating Disorders Track

Eating disorders partial hospitalization serves as a step down from inpatient eating disorder treatment, providing structured support while allowing patients to maintain their daily lives. This specialized track addresses the complex psychological and behavioral aspects of eating disorders through intensive individual therapy, nutrition education, and supervised meal planning.

Treatment teams work closely with patients to develop healthy eating habits and coping mechanisms while providing the intensive support needed during this vulnerable stage of recovery from eating disorders.

Dual Diagnosis Track

Dual diagnosis partial hospitalization programs treat co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders through integrated treatment approaches. These programs recognize that mental health diagnosis and substance use often interconnect, requiring specialized interventions that address both conditions simultaneously.

The comprehensive team approach combines psychiatric medication management with substance abuse counseling, helping patients develop skills to manage both their mental health symptoms and maintain recovery from substance use.

Key Points:

• Programs target specific mental health conditions for focused treatment
• Treatment duration varies from weeks to several months based on individual needs
• Specialized tracks ensure appropriate interventions for complex diagnoses

PHP Treatment Process and Insurance Coverage

The partial hospitalization treatment process begins with a comprehensive assessment and continues through structured daily programming designed to meet specific treatment goals established by the patient and treatment team.

Step-by-Step: Getting Started with PHP

When to use this: For patients and families considering partial hospitalization as an appropriate level of mental health treatment.

1. Obtain Professional Referral: A doctor or mental health professional must certify that without PHP intervention, inpatient treatment would otherwise be necessary. This medical necessity determination is crucial for insurance coverage.
2. Complete Referral Process: Contact a reputable treatment center directly or work with your healthcare provider to initiate referrals. Most programs accept both professional referrals and self-referrals with appropriate clinical assessment.
3. Verify Insurance Coverage: Contact your insurance company to verify coverage for partial hospitalization services, understand your deductible requirements, and determine any out-of-pocket costs. Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans cover PHP services.
4. Begin Assessment and Treatment Planning: Complete initial evaluation with the treatment team to develop an individualized treatment plan addressing your specific mental health needs and recovery goals.

Comparison: PHP vs. Other Treatment Levels

This comparison helps patients and families determine which level of care best matches current symptoms and treatment needs while considering practical factors like insurance coverage and life responsibilities.

• While PHP offers significant benefits, patients often encounter practical challenges that require planning and support to address effectively.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Understanding common challenges helps patients and families prepare for successful participation in partial hospitalization programs and develop strategies to address potential obstacles.

Challenge 1: Insurance Coverage and Costs

Solution: Contact your insurance company before beginning treatment to verify coverage for partial hospitalization services and understand your specific benefits. Request verification, successful waiting confirmation, and discuss any deductible or copay requirements with the treatment center’s financial team.

Most Medicare and Medicaid plans cover partial hospitalization, while private insurance coverage varies by plan, making advance verification essential for avoiding unexpected costs.

Challenge 2: Balancing Treatment with Work or School

Solution: Discuss scheduling flexibility with program staff and explore options for maintaining work or school commitments. Many programs offer morning or afternoon tracks, and patients may be eligible for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protections for mental health treatment.

Some treatment centers provide documentation for employers or schools to support attendance accommodation during the treatment period.

Challenge 3: Transportation to Daily Sessions

Solution: Plan transportation in advance, considering that daily attendance is required for 4-5 days per week. Explore family support, public transportation options, and telehealth components that some programs offer for certain group sessions or individual therapy appointments.

Many programs work with patients to identify transportation solutions and may offer resources for addressing this common barrier to treatment participation.

• Successfully addressing these challenges enables patients to focus on recovery goals and maximize the benefits of intensive partial hospitalization treatment.

Learn More about Legacy Healing Center’s PHP Program

Partial hospitalization programs provide intensive mental health treatment without requiring overnight stays, serving as an effective bridge between inpatient hospitalization and standard outpatient care. This treatment approach offers comprehensive support while allowing patients to maintain important connections to home, work, and community life.

The structured environment and multidisciplinary team approach make PHP particularly effective for adults and adolescents who need more intensive intervention than weekly therapy but don’t require 24-hour medical supervision.

To get started:

1. Contact Legacy Healing Center for an initial assessment and discuss program options that match your specific mental health diagnosis
2. Verify insurance coverage with your insurance company or use our online insurance verification form to understand coverage before beginning treatment