Admissions

Starting treatment here takes one call. There is no application, no waiting on a form, and no cost to find out whether we are the right fit.

Call (858) 925-8589. A person answers, 24 hours a day.

The four steps

1. The first call

A confidential conversation about what is going on and what you are looking for. Have your Medi-Cal or insurance card nearby if you can find it; if you cannot, your name and date of birth are usually enough for us to start. This call takes minutes, not an afternoon.

2. Coverage check

We verify your benefits before you commit to anything. If you have Medi-Cal in San Diego County — any of the four managed care plans — treatment here can be covered at no cost to you. See how Medi-Cal works here, or use our insurance verification form for commercial coverage.

3. Clinical assessment

A clinician talks with you about symptoms, history, substance use, medical conditions, medication, and safety, then recommends a level of care. This is also where we tell you if we are not the right place. We do not provide residential or inpatient treatment, and if that is what you need, we will say so and help you find it.

4. Start date

If we are a fit, we schedule your first day, walk you through the schedule, and tell you exactly what to bring. Most people start within days rather than weeks.

What to bring on your first day

Our programs are outpatient, so there is nothing to pack for an overnight stay. Bring:

• A valid photo ID
• Your Medi-Cal card or insurance card, if you have one
• A list of your current medications, including doses
• Any paperwork we gave you during intake
• A refillable water bottle
• Comfortable clothing suitable for a clinical setting, and a light sweater — rooms run cool

Some people also bring a notebook, a planner, or headphones. Those are optional and welcome.

Please leave at home: any drugs, alcohol, or paraphernalia; weapons of any kind; recording devices unless staff have cleared them for clinical use; and strongly scented products, since some clients are sensitive to them.

Attending in person and by video

Telehealth is available, and whether any part of your care happens by video is decided with your clinical team. Bring it up on the first call if getting to La Mesa is the thing standing between you and starting — transportation and scheduling are problems the admissions team is used to solving. The same goes for housing — if you have no stable place to stay, say so: our housing support partners are part of admissions planning.

Common worries about starting

"I have to work." Our intensive outpatient and outpatient programs are built around work and school schedules. Partial hospitalization takes most of the day, so people in PHP usually arrange a short leave.

"I cannot afford it." If you have Medi-Cal in San Diego County and meet clinical criteria, there is no cost to you. No copay, no deductible, no bill afterward.

"I do not know if it is bad enough." That question is what the assessment answers, and asking it costs nothing. Most people underestimate how long they have been struggling.

"I have tried treatment before." Common, and not a strike against you. What matters is what was tried, what got missed, and what was going untreated — which is exactly what the assessment looks at.

If this is an emergency

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or 988. The San Diego County Access and Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day at 1-888-724-7240.