What Is Partial Hospitalization (PHP)?
What Is Partial Hospitalization (PHP)?
Hospital-level care during the day. Your own bed at night.
Key takeaway: Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) provide 20+ hours per week of structured treatment — typically 5-6 hours per day, 5 days per week — with medical oversight but without overnight stays.
Who Is PHP For?
- People stepping down from inpatient or residential treatment
- People who need more structure than IOP but do not need 24-hour care
- People with co-occurring mental health conditions needing daily psychiatric support
- People transitioning from detox who are medically stable but need intensive therapy
What a Typical PHP Day Looks Like
Morning check-in and vitals, followed by group therapy sessions, individual counseling, psychiatric medication management, skills workshops, and discharge planning. Most programs run from approximately 9 AM to 3 PM.
PHP vs. IOP vs. Residential
PHP provides more hours and clinical intensity than IOP but less than residential. It is ideal for people with stable housing who need daily clinical contact. See Levels of Care Explained for the full continuum.
Does Insurance Cover PHP?
Most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, cover PHP when it is medically necessary. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services classifies PHP as an outpatient benefit.
Find PHP programs near you.
Need help now? Call 911 for emergencies. For 24/7 crisis support, call or text 988.
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