What should people think about before going through the admissions process for a rehab center? Apart from checking if they have health insurance for rehab, they should also check if they can use leaves covered by FMLA for rehab attendance.
Addiction is a complex and chronic disease that can affect both the body and the mind. Recovery is possible, but it requires assistance from family, friends, and even coworkers or employers. And then there’s FMLA, which is a part of a societal effort to destigmatize addiction and help people in need of professional addiction treatment.
Looking for help in setting up professional mental health treatment for yourself or someone you care about? Reach out to Oceanfront Recovery and ask about our admissions process, advice on how to use FMLA for rehab, and how to keep your health insurance confidential. Contact us online or call 877.279.1777.
What Is Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)?
President Clinton signed into law The Family Medical Leave Act in 1993. The federal law aimed “to balance the demands of the workplace with the needs of families.” It provides Americans with job stability and access to employer-provided healthcare during personal or family health crises.
Qualified Americans can receive up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave through the FMLA for various reasons. The length of the leave depends on their personalized needs. The FMLA has made it possible for many Americans to take care of their health, as well as the health of their families. They no longer need to choose between better health and job security.
Few addiction treatment programs last 12 weeks, which makes the FMLA an ideal way to plan the time for recovery. Medical detoxification can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Then there are a few more weeks for behavioral health therapy and other parts of addiction treatment programs.
Which Clients Are Covered by FMLA?
Someone is eligible for FMLA-covered medical leave if they:
- Work for a covered employer
- Have worked for their employer for 12 months or more
- Have worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months preceding their medical leave
- Work in an area where their employer has at least 50 employees within 75 miles
A covered employer can be any qualified private-sector employer or local, state, or federal government agency. It can also be any public or private elementary or secondary school. FMLA not only covers the 12 weeks of unpaid leave but also guarantees that someone will have the same job waiting for them when they return.
Can Clients Cite the FMLA for Rehab or Mental Health Treatment Purposes?
Addiction is a complicated and chronic disorder that affects people’s emotional, mental, and physical health. Because of the severity of its effect on a person’s life, the FMLA protects the jobs of employees seeking addiction treatment. People can also use the FMLA to take time off for mental health treatments, as long as it’s a serious mental health condition that a licensed physician diagnoses.
The FMLA defines severe health conditions as anything that requires inpatient care or continuing professional treatment. Some examples of serious mental health conditions covered by the FMLA include:
- Memory disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease
- Severe depression
- Severe bipolar disorder (BPD)
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Using that definition, even mental health conditions such as anxiety and stress may apply.
When a person has one mental health issue, it can co-occur with others. These are known as co-occurring disorders. Unfortunately, around half of people with a mental issue will also end up developing a substance use disorder. The same statistic goes for people who develop a substance use disorder first. Clients with a dual diagnosis are greatly encouraged to use their FMLA leaves to treat both problems at once.
Can Clients Keep Their FMLA Leaves and Health Insurance for Rehab Confidential?
All the client information from addiction treatment centers is always confidential. Healthcare providers are legally not permitted to share client health information with anyone for any reason except to provide them care. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 guarantees this.
HIPAA gives clients control over who can access their health records. With HIPAA, clients can limit which providers and health insurance companies can see their information. The only way a company or person can look into a client’s medical record is to provide the client with medical care. In cases like that, they’ll need the client’s health history to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Learn More About Oceanfront Recovery’s Programs and Services
Looking for professional mental health help? Reach out to Oceanfront Recovery. Ask about our admissions process, how to keep your health insurance confidential, and advice on how to use FMLA for rehab. Contact us online or call 877.279.1777.
