Guides & Resources

Behavioral health compliance, explained.

Practical, plain-English guides for founders building behavioral health and addiction treatment organizations in California — written by the team that does this work every day.

Starting a program

01

How to Open a Rehab Center

The full sequence — level of care, licensing, accreditation, insurance, staffing, and costs.

02

How to Start an IOP Program

Launching an intensive outpatient program — lower overhead, same compliance backbone.

03

Start a Sober Living Home (CA)

The licensing question that confuses every new operator — answered.

04

How to Start a Group Home

Why the population you serve decides your license, your staffing, and your costs.

05

How to Start a Detox Center

The highest-acuity level — medical, heavily regulated, accredited.

06

Start an Outpatient Center

OP, IOP, and PHP — the lower-overhead way into treatment.

Licensing, accreditation & getting paid

05

Drug Rehab Licensing in California

DHCS licensing vs. certification, requirements, and timeline.

06

What Is a CLIA Waiver?

The certificate that makes on-site drug screening legal.

07

Insurance Credentialing

How to get in-network and reimbursed — and how long it really takes.

08

Get Credentialed With Insurance

The credentialing process, step by step.

09

Behavioral Health Billing

How billing works and why it's its own discipline.

Accreditation & levels of care

10

What Is CARF Accreditation?

CARF vs. Joint Commission — and how to earn it.

11

PHP vs IOP

The difference between the two outpatient levels of care.

12

What Is a PHP?

Partial hospitalization, the day-treatment level of care.

13

What Is Utilization Review?

How payers decide what care they'll cover.

14

42 CFR Part 2 Explained

The confidentiality rule for SUD treatment records.

15

Telehealth Requirements

Licensure, privacy, consent, and billing for telehealth.

16

Start a Mental Health Nonprofit

501(c)(3) formation plus the clinical licensing catch.

Need it done for you?

Reading is one thing — getting licensed, accredited, and contracted is another. We handle the whole path so you don't have to learn it the hard way.

DHCS Licensing

Application to approval, survey-ready.

Joint Commission

Pass survey the first time.

CLIA Waiver

Test on site, legally.

Insurance Contracting

Get in-network and reimbursed.

Let's build your organization the right way.

Tell us what you're building and we'll map your path — licensing, accreditation, contracting, and what comes next.