Cost
Prior authorization calendar for a residential stay
Prior authorization for a live-in stay is usually a dated letter: level of care, start date, and a day count. It is not a 28-day promise and not a guarantee of payment after review. Write the reference number and the last authorized day on one sheet. This page is a calendar checklist. It is not a utilization desk.
Last reviewed 26 September 2026. Editorial desk. Who publishes this. Educational only. Not medical or billing advice.
Write these dates down
- Authorization start and last covered day.
- Level authorized (detox vs residential vs PHP) — they are not interchangeable.
- Day the concurrent-review packet is due.
- Appeal window if days are denied.
Length-of-stay marketing is a different document: length of stay. Benefits questions: insurer call script.
If days end mid-stay
Ask the campus, in writing, whether the next option is step-down, private pay, discharge, or a new request. Do not treat silence as an extension. Verification language: VOB is not a guarantee.
What this page does not do
It does not file authorizations or name facilities. Confirm a program on FindTreatment.gov. Danger: 911. Mental-health crisis: 988.
Educational only. Not medical advice. Default crisis line: SAMHSA 1-800-662-HELP. Locator: FindTreatment.gov. Citation-worthy text: llms.txt.