Cost & insurance
Using Medi-Cal for rehab in Orange County
If you have Medi-Cal, addiction treatment is a covered benefit. In Orange County it runs through the county’s Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, called DMC-ODS.
How to start
- Call the OC Health Care Agency Behavioral Health Beneficiary Access Line at (800) 723-8641, or OCLinks at (855) 625-4657, any time.
- A screener asks a few questions about your needs and recommends a level of care.
- You are referred to a county-contracted program that accepts Medi-Cal.
- The program does a full assessment and starts treatment.
What Medi-Cal covers
- Withdrawal management (detox)
- Residential treatment
- Intensive outpatient and outpatient treatment
- Medication-assisted treatment, including at narcotic treatment programs
- Recovery services and case management
Not every program in our directory accepts Medi-Cal. Many private programs do not. The county line is the fastest way to find one that does.
What DMC-ODS means for you
DMC-ODS is California’s way of organizing Medi-Cal addiction treatment by county. Orange County contracts with licensed and certified providers, sets the screening process, and decides placement using the same ASAM criteria private programs use. For you, it means a single phone number to start, no cost or very low cost, and a range of levels of care.
What to have ready when you call
- Your Medi-Cal card or Client Index Number (CIN), if you have it
- Your address and a phone number where you can be reached
- A short history of what you use and how often
- Any medications you take
If you do not have Medi-Cal yet
You can apply online through Covered California or BenefitsCal, by phone, or in person at an Orange County Social Services Agency office. Ask the screener on the Beneficiary Access Line whether treatment can start while your application is processed.
Before you call a program
- Ask for the DHCS license or certification number and check it.
- Ask which levels of care they provide on site.
- Ask what your insurance covers and what you will owe.
- Ask where you would go next when this level of care ends.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Medi-Cal already?
It helps, but if you might qualify, the county can help you apply. Low-income adults in California are often eligible.
Is there a waitlist?
It varies by level of care and season. Call early in the day and ask about interim services while you wait.
Can I choose my program on Medi-Cal?
You can share your preferences, but placement depends on which county-contracted programs have openings at the level of care you need.
Does Medi-Cal cover sober living?
Generally not as housing, but recovery residences may be available through some county programs. Ask the screener.