Q: What are APRA's fees?

By District law, APRA must collect fees in return for services. Accordingly, APRA charges for treatment at its minimum services program, methadone clinics, and residential programs; it does not charge for abstinence treatment.

Fees are collected on a sliding scale basis. Upon admission, all patients are interviewed to determine their fee based upon family size, income, and insurance coverage. Two forms of proof of household income are required – W-2 forms, income tax returns, payroll check stubs, and/or copies of payments from unearned income such as SSI, VA benefits, disability benefits, workers' compensation, or similar types of income are acceptable. Acceptable proofs of identification and/or income of all other members of the family are also required. The maximum fee for clients in the self-pay billing category is $10 per visit or $70 a week.

Newly-admitted clients who do not have Medicaid but who appear to be eligible are put on a self-pay status and referred to the nearest DC Office of Income Maintenance. APRA staff will help these clients in the Medicaid application process.

If clients have private health insurance, they must pay their bills and apply for reimbursement from their health insurance carrier. APRA will not collect from the insurer.

All APRA patients who live outside the District of Columbia (primarily DC criminal justice clients) must pay the full charge of $10 per visit or $70 per week.

If clients have been paying at a private clinic and transfer to APRA for whatever reason, they will be charged the full cost of treatment until and unless they can establish to APRA's satisfaction that their income level is low enough for sliding-scale payment.