Medically reviewed by Danielle Visone, Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Director at New Wave Recovery Center. This guide is for education and support; it is not a substitute for personalized care.
Quick Facts
- Also known as: day treatment, which is the term Massachusetts uses on its treatment licenses.
- Comparable national level: ASAM Level 2.5, now called High-Intensity Outpatient, generally at least 20 hours of clinical services per week [1][2][3].
- Setting: nonresidential. You return home, or to your own housing, each evening.
- In Massachusetts: licensed as Day Treatment under 105 CMR 164, defined as a minimum of 3.5 hours per day, three to seven days per week [4].
What Is A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)?
A partial hospitalization program is a form of intensive, structured treatment delivered during the day, with participants returning home in the evening. The name can be misleading: despite the word “hospitalization,” this care is not delivered in a hospital and does not involve an overnight stay. In the national ASAM framework used across U.S. addiction treatment, the comparable level is Level 2.5. The Fourth Edition of The ASAM Criteria now refers to this level as High-Intensity Outpatient, and ASAM notes that “PHP” is a bit of a misnomer precisely because the services are not hospital-based. Level 2.5 programs generally provide at least 20 hours of clinical services per week, with a strong focus on structured therapy.
PHP-level care sits between residential or inpatient treatment on one side and less time-intensive outpatient care on the other. It gives you a high degree of clinical support and daily contact with a treatment team, while still letting you sleep at home and stay connected to your everyday life. It is worth noting that PHP is not the single most intensive outpatient level in the current ASAM continuum, which also includes a medically managed intensive outpatient level for people with greater medical needs. For most people weighing their options, though, PHP-level care represents the most structured day-program choice.
Why Massachusetts Calls It "Day Treatment"
If you are searching for a PHP in Massachusetts, here is something important to understand. The state does not license a substance use service under the name “PHP.” Under 105 CMR 164, the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) licenses this care as Day Treatment, defined as an intensive outpatient program providing group, individual, and family substance use counseling for a minimum of 3.5 hours per day, three to seven days per week, based on individual needs [5].
That means a Massachusetts program that is clinically comparable to what insurers or national guidelines call a PHP will usually be presented as day treatment. A licensed provider may explain that a health plan uses the term PHP for billing or benefits, but the licensed service in this state is Day Treatment. Keeping this straight helps you compare programs accurately and avoid confusion when you talk with an admissions team or your insurer.
What Happens In A Day Of PHP, Or Day Treatment?
A day in a partial hospitalization program is built around several hours of coordinated clinical care. While every program is different, and schedules vary, a typical day commonly includes a mix of group therapy, individual therapy, family sessions when appropriate, psychoeducation, relapse-prevention work, and skill-building. Many programs also provide medication management for co-occurring mental health conditions and coordinate discharge planning so you know what comes next. Because you return home each evening, you have the chance to practice new skills in your real environment between sessions.
At New Wave, day treatment pairs evidence-based clinical care with holistic support every day. Our aim is a calm, welcoming setting where you get meaningful structure and connection without feeling like you are in a rigid, one-size-fits-all program. An admissions conversation is the best way to learn the current schedule, the weekly hours, and what a typical day looks like for you.
Therapies And Treatment Modalities In Day Treatment
Day treatment draws on a range of evidence-based therapies and holistic care, combined into a personalized treatment plan and delivered by an interdisciplinary treatment team. Common treatment modalities include group therapy and group sessions, individual therapy and individual therapy sessions, and family therapy with strong family involvement.
Programs also use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which teach coping skills, emotion regulation, and skill building, paired with medication management and medical supervision. After an initial assessment, your care planning maps out short-term goals and how you will step down when you are ready. Because you return home each evening, you can practice these skills in daily life between structured sessions, and New Wave offers transportation assistance to help you attend.
How Co-Occurring Disorders Fit In
Many people in day treatment are also managing co-occurring mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or bipolar disorder, along with thought patterns like rumination. Treating substance use and serious mental health conditions together, an approach known as dual diagnosis or co-occurring care, gives you comprehensive care in a supportive environment.
When medication supports recovery, such as naltrexone (Vivitrol), our team reviews what to expect, including Vivitrol’s side effects and timeline. Day treatment can also connect you with peer support and support groups that reinforce your progress and long-term stability.
Who is PHP-level care for?
PHP-level care is generally a good fit for people who need close, near-daily support but who do not require the round-the-clock supervision of a residential or inpatient setting. It can work as a starting point for someone who needs significant structure, or as a step down after inpatient, residential, or withdrawal management, as symptoms stabilize. Many individuals choose it when symptoms are worsening but do not require hospitalization or, in rarer situations, involuntary treatment.
The most reliable way to know whether PHP is right for you is a clinical assessment, not self-diagnosis. The ASAM Criteria guides clinicians to consider factors such as withdrawal risk, medical and psychiatric needs, substance use-related risks, your recovery environment, and your personal preferences, and then recommend the least intensive level where you can be safely and effectively treated.
How does PHP compare with IOP and outpatient?
In short, PHP-level care asks for the most hours per week of the three outpatient options, an intensive outpatient program (IOP) sits in the middle, and standard outpatient is the lightest. PHP-level care generally involves 20 or more clinical hours per week, IOP generally 9 to 19, and standard outpatient fewer than 9.
How Often Does PHP Meet?
As rough benchmarks, PHP-level care usually meets five to seven days a week for several hours a day, with no overnight stay, and includes both individual and group therapy. IOP commonly meets three to five times a week over roughly 8 to 12 weeks, and standard outpatient is often a single weekly session. The levels above PHP are more intensive: residential treatment typically lasts about 30 to 90 days in a 24-hour, non-hospital setting, and inpatient hospitalization provides around-the-clock monitoring for people at imminent safety risk, usually for a short stay focused on safety and stabilization.
For a full side-by-side breakdown of hours, structure, cost, and how the right level is chosen in Massachusetts, see our main guide, IOP vs. PHP vs. Outpatient: How to Choose the Right Level of Care in Massachusetts, or read more about how the levels of care and the continuum of care fit together.
Sources
- American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), The ASAM Criteria, Fourth Edition https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria/asam-criteria-4th-edition
- American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), The ASAM Criteria FAQ https://www.asam.org/asam-criteria/criteria-faq
- ASAM Criteria Fourth Edition, disseminated summary via Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing https://hcpf.colorado.gov/sites/hcpf/files/ASAM-Fourth-Ed-Disseminate-Summary.pdf
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 105 CMR 164.005 Definitions, Licensure of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Programs https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/105-CMR-164-005 (official text: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/reg_pub/pdf/100/105164.pdf)
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS). https://www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-substance-addiction-services
What Is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)? FAQs
Is a PHP the same as inpatient treatment?
No. Inpatient care involves an overnight stay in a facility, while a partial hospitalization program is nonresidential: you attend during the day and return home each evening. PHP-level care offers intensive daily support without the overnight component.
How long does a PHP last?
It varies by person, because the right length depends on your needs and progress. Some people attend for a few weeks; others stay longer or step down to a less intensive level as they stabilize. At New Wave, day treatment often runs around six weeks, though your care team will tailor this to you.
Is it called PHP or day treatment in Massachusetts?
Both terms get used, but they come from different places. “PHP” is a common national and insurer term, while “Day Treatment” is the service Massachusetts actually licenses under 105 CMR 164. A Massachusetts program comparable to a PHP will usually be presented as day treatment.
Can I live at home during a PHP?
Yes. A partial hospitalization program is designed so you return home, or to your own housing, at the end of each treatment day. This lets you practice new skills in your daily environment while still getting intensive support.
Does insurance cover PHP in Massachusetts?
Coverage varies by plan. New Wave currently participates with WellSense and accepts eligible MassHealth members through WellSense, and is out of network with most commercial insurers. Because network status and benefits can change, our team can help you verify your specific coverage before you start.
In a crisis? If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911.
