Latest news with #ADA-compliant
Time Business News
5 days ago
- Health
- Time Business News
Your Comprehensive Companion for IOP Startup Success
Launching an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) requires more than just a business idea—it demands a clinically sound vision tailored to the needs of your target population. Decide whether your IOP will focus on substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health issues, trauma, or a combination of concerns. Clarify your treatment model: will it emphasize evidence-based practices like CBT, DBT, or motivational interviewing? Establishing a clear clinical foundation from the outset ensures program coherence, attracts the right staff, and positions you as a credible care provider. Launching a mid-level behavioral health service requires strategic planning, regulatory compliance, and clinical expertise. Facilities must be equipped to offer group therapy, individual counseling, medication management, and case coordination while maintaining flexibility for patients with daily life responsibilities. Understanding how to start an IOP program involves more than securing a license; it demands a deep awareness of community needs, insurance reimbursement structures, and staff training requirements. With the right framework in place, an Intensive Outpatient Program can provide effective, accessible care for individuals who need structured support without full-time hospitalization—bridging the gap between intensive and traditional outpatient treatment. Each state has specific licensing requirements for IOPs, typically governed by the Department of Health or Behavioral Health Services. These regulations often cover staffing ratios, clinical documentation, safety protocols, and physical facility standards. Begin by obtaining your facility license, which may require zoning approval, policy manuals, and mock inspections. If your program will accept insurance, start the credentialing process with Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial insurers early—this process can take several months. Compliance isn't just a one-time hurdle; it's an ongoing operational mandate that shapes how you deliver care. An IOP requires a physical space that balances functionality with therapeutic warmth. Look for a facility that includes private therapy offices, group rooms, administrative space, and a welcoming reception area. Ensure the building is ADA-compliant, meets fire safety codes, and is zoned for outpatient healthcare services. Location matters, too—proximity to public transportation, hospitals, and referral sources can enhance accessibility and visibility. Design your space to support a structured clinical environment that feels safe and confidential for clients. A successful IOP is built on the expertise and cohesion of its clinical team. Hire licensed therapists, certified substance use counselors, case managers, and support staff who align with your treatment philosophy. If your program includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT) or psychiatric care, partner with a prescribing provider. Equally important are the administrative roles—intake coordinators, billing specialists, and program managers ensure smooth daily operations. Prioritize staff training, supervision, and burnout prevention. Your team's synergy is the heartbeat of your program's effectiveness and reputation. An IOP typically consists of 9–15 hours of therapy per week, delivered over multiple sessions. Structure your schedule with a mix of group therapy, individual counseling, psychoeducation, relapse prevention, and family involvement. Develop written protocols for assessments, treatment planning, progress reviews, and discharge procedures. Incorporate evidence-based modalities and tailor care plans to individual client needs. Program consistency builds clinical credibility and enables you to meet the expectations of both regulators and payers. Choose an electronic health record (EHR) system that supports behavioral health workflows—intake, clinical documentation, scheduling, and insurance billing. Create standardized forms and processes for assessments, progress notes, treatment plans, and discharge summaries. Begin insurance credentialing as early as possible and establish systems to verify benefits, manage authorizations, and track claims. Whether billing is in-house or outsourced, accuracy and timeliness are critical to financial stability. Well-organized operations free clinicians to focus on care and protect your business from costly compliance issues. Ethical marketing is essential in the behavioral health space. Build a professional website that clearly outlines your services, admission process, staff credentials, and accepted insurance plans. Optimize your content for local SEO so that potential clients and referral sources can easily find you online. Develop relationships with hospitals, therapists, probation offices, schools, and community organizations. Avoid aggressive advertising—focus on education, transparency, and value-driven communication that aligns with your mission. Trust is your most powerful marketing asset. Use clinical and operational data to evaluate the success of your IOP. Track metrics such as client attendance, treatment completion, satisfaction surveys, and symptom reduction. Monitor staff utilization, billing efficiency, and referral sources. Use this information to refine programming, address bottlenecks, and support strategic growth. Consider adding specialty tracks, evening groups, or virtual services as demand evolves. Growth should be intentional and based on data—not just opportunity. Consistent quality builds a reputation that can scale sustainably. Launching or expanding a behavioral health facility involves more than just a vision—it requires strict adherence to state regulations and standards. Organizations operating in California must ensure full compliance with DHCS Licensing for behavioral health, which governs the approval process for providing mental health and substance use disorder services. This includes meeting specific facility, staffing, and documentation requirements set forth by the Department of Health Care Services. Understanding and fulfilling these licensing obligations is crucial to maintain credibility, secure reimbursements, and avoid legal pitfalls. Proper preparation helps streamline the process and positions the organization for long-term operational success. Launching an IOP is a meaningful venture that combines clinical care with business acumen. With a defined purpose, regulatory compliance, skilled staff, and structured programming, your IOP can become a trusted part of your community's mental health and recovery landscape. This comprehensive companion offers a roadmap for turning your vision into reality—one step at a time, with precision, compassion, and a focus on lasting impact. When built with integrity, your IOP can become more than a business—it can be a lifeline. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
VDOT asks for feedback on I-81, Broad St. multimillion dollar projects
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is calling for public feedback on two multi-million dollar projects affecting the SAW region. On July 14, VDOT will hold a public meeting on the corridor improvement plan for the entirety of Interstate 81 across Virginia. This is the second time a project with a similar scale has been conducted concerning I-81. 'The study team previously conducted a similar study, which was completed in 2018 and advanced 65 construction projects worth approximately $3 billion,' reads the project's summary on VDOT's website. 'Those projects are now in development, and many have already been completed. With those projects well underway, the study team seeks to determine how traffic conditions have changed on the interstate, and which areas now need attention.' The current study has been through round one of public feedback, identifying problems, and is now looking for potential solutions. 'For the 2025 effort, the study team will again identify targeted improvements along I-81, focusing on segments that have the highest rate and severity of crashes, or the most significant traffic delays,' reads the project's website. There are planned projects along I-81 in Augusta County, including multiple projects on acceleration and deceleration lanes extensions around mile marker 232.4 scheduled to begin in January 2028. The projected costs of the three projects around these lanes is estimated to total at least $9 million. The local meeting will take place on July 14 at 5 p.m. at the Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave. Just before, at 3 p.m., the Interstate 81 Advisory Committee will meet in the same location. Additional town halls are planned in Winchester, Bristol, and Salem. More information on the project can be found online at the 2025 Corridor Improvement Plan Update page on VDOT's website. Public comments can also be sent to a81CorridorPlan@ More: THE AGENDA: Staunton plans for flood resiliency, to select school board chair Then, on August 5, VDOT will hold a public hearing on an improvement project for Broad Street in Waynesboro, which will be nearly 1.5 miles long. 'This project improves the operational safety of the Broad Street corridor by replacing center two-way left-turn lanes with designated turn areas and raised medians,' reads the press release. 'This will restrict the number of full access points onto Broad Street and reduce crashes. Streetscape improvements such as trees and other landscaping elements will also be incorporated into the project. Multimodal improvements include installing missing sections of sidewalk (along the north side of Broad Street) and ADA-compliant facilities such as curb ramps and pedestrian crosswalks, and minor signal adjustments as needed.' The cost of the project is approximately $8.3 million, including about $6.5 million for construction. Over $800,000 went toward engineering, and more than $800,000 went to right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation. An average of 11,600 vehicles utilize Broad Street every day, according to VDOT. The open house is scheduled for 4 p.m. on August 5 in Waynesboro City Council chambers at the Charles T. Yancey Municipal Building, located at 504 Main St. The project manager, Jennifer Hoover, will receive comments submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date. More information about the project can be found on the VDOT project page. More: Affidavit: Witness shot man in head after relative was stabbed in neck in Mount Solon Lyra Bordelon (she/her) is the public transparency and justice reporter at The News Leader. Do you have a story tip or feedback? It's welcome through email to lbordelon@ Subscribe to us at This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: VDOT asks for feedback on I-81, Broad St. multimillion dollar projects
Axios
10-07-2025
- Axios
Exclusive: Massachusetts mothers create mobile accessible bathroom
A pair of North Shore advocates are building a bathroom on wheels in hopes of making festivals, meetups and other public activities accessible to people with disabilities. Why it matters: Events of all kinds — from concerts to Pride festivals — shut out countless people with disabilities and others because they fail to offer bathrooms that truly fit their needs. Those individuals, and often their families, are effectively isolated from public life. Driving the news: Lisa Marie Tulipani and her business partner, Maria Riley, have designed the Lynnebago, a two-room accessibility solution in a trailer with air conditioning and heating. How it works: One room has a spacious bathroom with an ADA-compliant adult changing table that can adjust vertically. The second room is a sensory room, meant to console those experiencing sensory overload. There are signage and communication tools throughout for people who are non-verbal, hard of hearing and visually impaired. Zoom in: For Tulipani, the Lynnebago is a solution to a problem her family has run into time and time again: where to find accessible activities for her 5-year-old son Petey to enjoy. Petey, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair. Life expectancy for people with quadriplegic cerebral palsy ranges from 20 to 70 years. What they're saying:"I want those 20 years to be 20 years where we're out doing stuff. I want other families to be out doing stuff," Tulipani, a Lynn resident and co-founder, tells Axios. "I'm not going to sit here and wait for people in power to realize dignity in public spaces is important." Zoom out: Boston lags behind cities like Honolulu and St. Paul, Minnesota, in terms of accessibility, per several surveys and reports. A 2024 Forbes Health review ranked Boston 70 out of 93 cities in terms of accessibility, with only 5% of rentals being wheelchair-accessible. In Honolulu, which ranked No. 1, nearly one-third of rentals are wheelchair accessible. Honolulu also reported more accessible attractions and restaurants per capita than Boston did. Reality check: The Lynnebago is a prototype, and it'll take time for the company to scale up to send multiple trailers to parks or public events. The duo secured a $75,000 grant through the Arc Tank, a Northeast Arc disability innovation funding competition, to cover the cost of building the prototype. What's next: Lynnebago's founders are fundraising to fine-tune the prototype and launch it.
Axios
09-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
D.C. stalls popular public bathroom program amid funding cuts
D.C.'s popular public bathroom program is on hold — and people are pissed. Driving the news: Throne, the startup behind a fleet of luxe loos, shut down its six free toilets on July 5 after the city let its contract lapse over funding issues. City officials say they've identified funding to keep the bathrooms running through September, but they gave no timeline for reopening them. Why it matters: D.C. is desperate for bathrooms, especially with massive events for America's 250th birthday and beyond. Catch up quick: Throne launched 18 potties in DMV in 2024 — all free, mobile, ADA-compliant, and equipped with baby stations, sinks, AC and menstrual products. So yes, popular — D.C. Thrones attracted around 71,000 visitors between the start of the pilot and May. The city used six in a pilot program for high-traffic areas like Dupont Circle, Eastern Market and near the Mall. The latest: City officials told the Washington Post that Throne's funding was wiped after the congressional GOP spending bill slashed $1 billion from D.C.'s budget and forced the city to terminate contracts. Yes, but: The mayor's office seemingly reversed its decision after pushback from neighborhood organizations and public officials. A petition to reopen Thrones garnered more than 740 signatures. As one Throne supporter told Axios: "There's nothing like the wrath of someone approaching a bathroom and finding it closed." Zoom in: The D.C. Council is helping fund 10 Thrones in the new fiscal year, Councilmember Brianne Nadeau tells Axios. Nadeau, who championed the program as chair of the Committee on Public Works, says it's still unclear why the contract lapsed. Multiple committees pitched in for the pilot in FY26, she says, and council members sponsored their own, covering new Thrones in Wards 7, 8 and 1. Claims that Throne funding will cost Public Works jobs are "completely inaccurate," Nadeau tells Axios. What they're saying: "Ultimately, this is really scalable. They're easy to use, easy to place, people love them," Nadeau tells Axios. Her next step: Introducing legislation to make the pilot permanent.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Digital Silk Launches ADA-Compliant Branding Framework to Support Inclusive Design in 2025
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 9, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has launched a new ADA-compliant branding framework designed to support accessible design for mid-to-large U.S. enterprises. The framework aims to help brands align visual and verbal identity elements with WCAG 2.2 standards while maintaining performance-driven consistency across digital channels. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: As businesses respond to a rise in accessibility-related legal actions-over 4,600 web accessibility lawsuits were filed in U.S. federal courts in 2023 according to UsableNet-Digital Silk's framework offers a structured approach to ADA-compliant branding. This includes guidance on accessible typography, contrast ratios, inclusive imagery, and messaging that supports equitable digital experiences. What the ADA-Compliant Branding Framework Includes: Brand color audits and palette adjustments for contrast and readability Font pairings and layout templates aligned with WCAG 2.2 compliance Inclusive iconography, image curation, and tone-of-voice adaptations Accessibility design reviews integrated into branding deliverables Industry-specific compliance recommendations for legal, healthcare, and eCommerce sectors Leadership Perspective on Accessible Branding "Creating an inclusive brand identity is no longer optional-it's becoming a necessary standard," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "Our ADA-compliant branding framework is designed to help companies meet compliance requirements while maintaining a strong and cohesive visual presence." The framework is now available to all Digital Silk branding clients and will be incorporated into new brand development projects moving forward. Clients operating in regulated sectors or those seeking to expand digital reach across diverse user bases may benefit from adopting accessibility-first brand strategies early in the creative process. For more information, visit: About Digital Silk Digital Silk is a full-service Branding Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk delivers industry-leading digital experiences through strategic branding and cutting-edge web design to support engagement and visibility through tailored digital marketing services. Media ContactJessica ErasmusMarketing Director & PR ManagerTel: (800) 206-9413Email: jessica@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
