Houghton House
Assessment
Getting admitted to Houghton House starts with an assessment: A confidential conversation to understand your situation.
Our admissions team will help you understand your options, answer your questions, and move at a pace that works for you. Call our enquiry line at any time to speak with a trained, caring professional who provides immediate support and guidance.
Telephonic evaluation
- When you call, one of our admissions team members will ask you a few questions about the situation, such as:
- What substances are involved?
- How long has it been going on?
- Are there any immediate health concerns?
- From there, they’ll advise whether immediate admission makes sense or whether an in-person assessment is the better next step.
In-person assessment
- If an in-person assessment is recommended, our admissions team will help you schedule it as soon as possible.
- A member of our clinical team will meet with you and, where relevant, your family to get a full picture:
- Substance use history
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Any previous treatment
- Based on your assessment, we’ll recommend the most appropriate level of care.
- If Houghton House isn’t the right fit for your situation, we’ll help connect you with a facility that is.
Admission process
Once the assessment is complete and you’ve decided to proceed, our team handles the admission paperwork so treatment can begin with as little delay as possible.
If you’re covered by medical aid, we’ll verify your benefits and manage pre-authorisation on your behalf.
We know this call isn’t easy to make. Our admissions team will go at your pace, answer your questions honestly, and won’t pressure you into a decision.
Frequently asked questions about our intake assessment
Here’s what happens when you contact Houghton House:
- We conduct a confidential phone call to understand your situation and the level of care needed.
- We’ll discuss the patient’s history, substance(s) of use, and any previously diagnosed psychiatric conditions, as well as any current treatment. We’ll also collect your medical aid information and go through your treatment options.
- Following the call, we’ll send you an information pack and submit your details to your medical aid for pre-authorisation.
- Once we receive feedback from your medical aid scheme, we’ll contact you to confirm and book a bed for you or your loved one.
Yes. In South Africa, all registered medical aid schemes are legally required to cover the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders under Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs). This applies regardless of which scheme you’re on or which plan you hold.
Because Houghton House is licensed as both a rehabilitation facility and a private psychiatric hospital, patients can access both addiction PMBs and, where a co-occurring condition qualifies, psychiatric PMBs under a single admission. For most patients, this means no copayments beyond the upfront R1,850 admission fee.
The exact scope of cover depends on your specific scheme and benefit year. Our admissions team will verify your benefits and submit for pre-authorisation before admission, so you know what to expect before committing.
or call 011 787 9142 to confirm your benefits directly.
Note: Gambling addiction is not covered under PMBs. Cover for gambling treatment depends on whether a co-occurring psychiatric condition qualifies under your scheme’s psychiatric benefits. Contact our admissions team to discuss your specific situation.
Yes, as a dual-licensed psychiatric hospital, Houghton House can claim under both addiction PMBs and psychiatric PMBs for patients with co-occurring conditions that qualify under psychiatric benefits. This can result in broader coverage for eligible patients. The admissions team can confirm what your specific scheme covers.
You don’t need a diagnosis or a confirmed addiction to reach out. The admissions team can help you make sense of what you’re observing and whether it points to a problem worth addressing. The conversation is confidential and carries no commitment to proceed.
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