IOP and PHP are both outpatient options for treating drug or alcohol addiction.
- IOP stands for Intensive Outpatient Program
- PHP stands for Partial Hospitalization Program
The Difference Between PHP and IOP
PHP Requires More Hours Per Week in Treatment
- IOP usually requires coming to a clinic 3 days per week for 3-4 hours (9-10 hours per week).
- PHP usually requires coming to a clinic 5 days per week for 4-8 hours (20-40 hours per week).
Going Directly to PHP is Uncommon
- Patients can typically go to IOP with or without going to inpatient rehab first.
- PHP is most commonly used as a step-down phase during inpatient rehab. It can be hard to find a program that allows patients to start directly with PHP.
NOTE: Treating withdrawal symptoms is not a standard part of PHP or IOP programs.
Some outpatient clinics (like Symetria) offer both IOP and outpatient medical detox. With these special IOP programs, treatment can be fully outpatient for most drugs, including opioids. However, alcohol and benzodiazepines (“benzos”) may require inpatient detox regardless of whether it’s followed by IOP or PHP.
Do I need IOP or PHP?
While PHP is a common level of care in addiction treatment, it’s not always an option that patients can select. More commonly, patients choose between IOP or inpatient rehab.
(See IOP vs. Rehab)
Why aren't there more PHP options?
IOP and inpatient rehab covers different needs of most patients without requiring the middle ground PHP option.
1. PHP is typically offered by providers that also have inpatient rehabs.
Inpatient rehabs often don’t allow patients to start PHP directly because:
- Insurance companies pay more money for inpatient treatment than they do for PHP.
- Too many patients admitted directly to PHP can cause capacity issues when those in inpatient treatment are ready for PHP.
- If all patients receive medical care, liabilities are limited.
NOTE: Inpatient rehabs that offer PHP usually provide sober housing.
By law, PHP housing should be different from the residential treatment phase. But, to patients, this still feels like inpatient care even if the provider is billing insurance as PHP. Patients are still living on a campus as opposed to at home, though with fewer restrictions.
2. Outpatient PHP is hard to keep full.
Outpatient PHP patients have to be hyperlocal to drive in 5 days per week, while also able to commit to full-time care.
Patients usually choose outpatient treatment to keep up with work or childcare responsibilities or because it’s more affordable. IOP is better able to meet these needs. So, most outpatient patients choose IOP over PHP.
In addition, patients may drive several hours or even fly to attend inpatient treatment. Whereas, PHP patients would need to live less than an hour driving distance from the clinic.
What does "PHP IOP" mean?
When someone says “PHP IOP” they likely mean addiction treatment that is outpatient yet intensive.
In the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) official assessment model, both IOP and PHP are bucketed together as level two. This is often referred to as “PHP / IOP.” ⓘ
ASAM Official Levels of Care
(Both IOP and PHP are outpatient and require multiple sessions per week, which separates them from inpatient options or outpatient options that require only 1-2 hours per week or less).
Finding the Right Level of Care for You
Just like you’d go to a primary care doctor to treat seasonal allergies and the E.R. for a life-threatening allergic reaction, addiction treatment has different options. The goal is to find the lowest level of care that is appropriate.
Symetria Recovery offers level 1 and level 2 treatment options. For some, this may not be enough, but we can help you assess your options and provide local recommendations if needed.
Addiction Treatment Options in Illinois & Texas
If interested in outpatient treatment in Illinois, find the best location for you:
If interested in outpatient treatment in Texas, find the best location for you:
To get general advice on addiction treatment in Illinois or Texas, call (866) 933-6056.