If you live in Portland, South Portland, Westbrook or Scarborough and you've started looking into addiction treatment, you've probably run into two sets of letters over and over: PHP and IOP. Both let you live at home. Both are serious, structured treatment. Both are covered by most insurance plans and MaineCare. So what's the difference, and how do you know which one you actually need?
This guide explains how a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an intensive outpatient program (IOP) compare, the signs that point to each one, and what starting either program looks like for Portland-area adults at our center in Biddeford, about 20 minutes down I-95.
The short answer
PHP is a full-day program. IOP is a half-day program.
- A partial hospitalization program runs about six clinical hours a day, five days a week. You get daily therapy, medical and medication oversight, and a care team that sees you every weekday. You go home every night. Most people stay two to four weeks.
- An intensive outpatient program runs three-hour sessions, three to five days a week, in morning or evening tracks. It's built to fit around a job, school or family. Most people stay six to twelve weeks.
Clinicians use a national framework called the ASAM Criteria to match people to the right level of care. In that framework, IOP is Level 2.1 (at least nine hours a week for adults) and PHP is Level 2.5 (20 or more hours a week). The difference is intensity, not quality. Both use the same therapies and the same clinical team.
PHP vs. IOP side by side
| Feature | Partial hospitalization (PHP) | Intensive outpatient (IOP) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | About 6 clinical hours a day, 5 days a week | 3-hour sessions, 3 to 5 days a week |
| Weekly hours | Roughly 25 to 30 | Roughly 9 to 15 |
| Time of day | Daytime | Morning or evening track |
| Typical length | 2 to 4 weeks | 6 to 12 weeks |
| Can you keep working? | Usually not full time (many use FMLA or short-term leave) | Yes, that's what it's designed for |
| Medical and medication support | Built into every day | Ongoing medication management |
| Where you sleep | At home, or in sober living | At home, or in sober living |
| Best for | Early recovery, recent detox or residential, symptoms that need daily attention | Stable at home but need more than weekly therapy |
Both programs at Portland Treatment include individual therapy, CBT and DBT skills groups, relapse prevention, family sessions, case management and holistic care like yoga, meditation and breathwork. The difference is how much of each you get per week.
Signs PHP is the better starting point
PHP makes sense when you need inpatient-level structure but don't need (or can't take) a residential bed. It's often the right fit if:
- You just finished detox or residential treatment. Going from 24-hour care straight to a few hours a week is a steep drop. PHP keeps the structure high while you practice recovery at home. If you're still weighing those options, our guide to residential vs. inpatient treatment explains the difference.
- IOP or weekly therapy hasn't held. If you've tried outpatient care and keep returning to use between sessions, more hours and more support is usually the answer.
- Cravings, sleep or withdrawal symptoms are still hard to manage. PHP builds in daily medical and medication check-ins, which matters during the first weeks of recovery or when medication is being adjusted.
- A mental health condition needs daily attention. Depression, anxiety, trauma and other co-occurring conditions can drive substance use. PHP gives you a daily clinical team for both. Learn more about our dual diagnosis treatment.
- Home is safe, but your days have no structure. If you're between jobs, on leave or home alone all day, the full-day schedule fills the hours when relapse risk is highest.
See the full details on our partial hospitalization program in Southern Maine.
Signs IOP is the better starting point
IOP is the right level of care for many people from day one. It isn't only a "step down." It's often the right fit if:
- You're medically stable and safe at home, with at least some support from family, friends or a sponsor.
- Weekly therapy alone isn't enough, but you don't need full-day programming.
- You need to keep working, going to school or caring for family. Our morning track runs before the workday and our evening track after it. Our guide to working during rehab covers FMLA, privacy and talking to your employer.
- You're stepping down from PHP, detox or residential treatment and want a structured next step.
- You want accountability several days a week, not a once-a-week check-in.
See the full details on our intensive outpatient program in Southern Maine.
What if you're somewhere in between?
That's common, and it's why we never pick a level of care from a website form. A short assessment looks at your substance use history, physical and mental health, home situation, work and support system. Then we recommend where to start.
Your level of care isn't permanent either. Plans are reviewed as you go:
- Doing well in PHP? You step down to IOP with the same team. No new intake, no starting over.
- Struggling in IOP? You can step up to PHP for a few weeks, then step back down.
- Need more than PHP? We'll tell you, and help you get into medical detox or a residential program through our network of trusted Maine providers first.
The typical path looks like this: detox (if needed), then PHP, then IOP, then outpatient, then the alumni program. Some people start at PHP, some at IOP, and some skip steps. What matters is that each step is planned before the last one ends.
What a week looks like for a Portland-area client
Here's an illustrative example. These are not real clients, just the way a typical schedule plays out.
PHP example. A 34-year-old from South Portland finishes a week of detox on a Friday. On Monday she starts PHP in Biddeford. She drives about 20 minutes south on I-95, spends the day in check-in groups, skills groups, individual therapy and a medication check-in, and is home for dinner. After three weeks her cravings and sleep have settled, and her team steps her down to the evening IOP track so she can return to work.
IOP example. A 47-year-old from Westbrook works days and has been drinking more each year. He isn't in withdrawal danger, and his assessment shows IOP is the right starting point. He attends the evening track three nights a week after work, has a weekly one-on-one with his therapist, and brings his wife to two family sessions. After ten weeks he moves to weekly outpatient therapy and joins the alumni group.
Getting to treatment from Portland
Our center is at 6 Digital Drive in Biddeford, about 20 minutes from downtown Portland on I-95 and five minutes from Saco, with free parking at the door. Clients commute from Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunk and Sanford.
A few practical notes for Portland-area clients:
- Evening IOP after work. If you work in Portland, the evening track lets you finish your day and drive straight down.
- Virtual IOP if the drive won't work. If a car, a winter storm or a shift schedule makes the commute unrealistic, virtual IOP is the same clinical program over secure video, anywhere in Maine. Our guide to virtual IOP in Maine explains who it fits best.
- Sober living during PHP. If home isn't a stable place to start, we can help coordinate a bed with trusted local partners. Learn more about sober living support.
Does insurance cover PHP and IOP in Maine?
In most cases, yes. Both are recognized levels of care under nearly all commercial plans and MaineCare. Portland Treatment is in-network with Anthem, UMR/UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Harvard Pilgrim, Martin's Point, TRICARE, MaineCare and Cigna. In-network means contracted rates and no balance bill.
Coverage usually depends on medical necessity, which is what the assessment documents. That's another reason not to guess at the level of care yourself.
We verify your benefits for free, in minutes, with no obligation. See insurance we accept or our guide to MaineCare coverage for addiction treatment.
How to get started
- Call or reach out. Our admissions line, 855-449-7674, is answered 24 hours a day, or you can contact us online.
- Complete a short assessment. Often the same day. We'll recommend PHP, IOP, outpatient care or a higher level of care, based on your situation.
- Verify insurance and pick a start date. There's no waitlist. Many people start within the week.
If you're in danger right now, call 911. For a mental health or suicide crisis, call or text 988, or call the Maine Crisis Line at 1-888-568-1112. More statewide help is on our Maine resources page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between PHP and IOP?
Time and intensity. PHP is a full-day program, about six clinical hours a day, five days a week, with medical and medication support built into each day. IOP is three-hour sessions, three to five days a week, in morning or evening tracks so you can keep working. Both let you live at home.
Is there an IOP or PHP in Portland, Maine?
Portland Treatment's PHP and IOP are at our center in Biddeford, about 20 minutes south of downtown Portland on I-95, and many of our clients commute from Portland, South Portland and Westbrook. If the drive doesn't work, our virtual IOP delivers the same program over secure video anywhere in Maine.
How many hours a week is PHP compared to IOP?
PHP is roughly 25 to 30 clinical hours a week. IOP is roughly 9 to 15 hours a week, depending on whether you attend three, four or five sessions.
Do I need to go to detox before PHP or IOP?
Not always. If you drink heavily every day or use benzodiazepines or opioids, withdrawal may need medical supervision first, and we coordinate detox placement with licensed Maine providers. If you don't need detox, you can start PHP or IOP directly after your assessment.
Can I move from IOP to PHP if I'm struggling?
Yes. Levels of care are flexible. If IOP isn't enough, your team can step you up to PHP for a few weeks and then back down to IOP once you're more stable, with the same clinicians the whole way.
Is PHP or IOP better for alcohol addiction?
Neither is better in general. It depends on how much you drink, your withdrawal risk, your mental health and your support at home. Many people with alcohol use disorder start in IOP. Others need PHP first, especially right after detox. An assessment tells you which one fits.
This article is educational and is not medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or dial 911 for an emergency.
