Shanti Recovery & Wellness adds Medi-Cal coverage for virtual IOP in California

Shanti Recovery & Wellness said July 7 that its virtual intensive outpatient program now accepts Medi-Cal, widening access to addiction and mental health treatment for eligible adults across California. The move is aimed at people who face barriers to in-person care, including transportation, rural distance, work and childcare demands.

Why it matters: - Medi-Cal coverage can make structured addiction and dual-diagnosis treatment more reachable for Californians who cannot easily attend in-person programs. - Virtual IOP is designed for adults who need more support than weekly outpatient therapy but do not require 24-hour residential care. - The change could help people in rural areas, working adults, parents and others with transportation barriers access care sooner.

What happened: - Shanti Recovery & Wellness announced on July 7, 2026, that its virtual intensive outpatient program accepts Medi-Cal. - The program is available to eligible Californians, subject to eligibility, clinical appropriateness and benefits verification. - The announcement also says Shanti is working to accept many Covered California marketplace plans. - The organization says confidential coverage confirmation is available by phone.

The details: - Virtual IOP includes scheduled clinical programming several days per week. - Services include therapy, relapse prevention support, coping skills development and care coordination. - Clients participate from a private, appropriate location while receiving a structured level of care. - Shanti also accepts cash-pay and self-pay clients for online IOP. - In many cases, Shanti can offer a sliding scale for people with demonstrated need. - The admissions process is used to determine whether virtual IOP is clinically appropriate and whether Medi-Cal benefits may apply. - The organization says some people may need detox, residential treatment, inpatient psychiatric care or other higher levels of support before outpatient treatment. - Shanti Recovery & Wellness provides virtual behavioral health and addiction treatment services for adults in California.

Between the lines: - California’s behavioral health access problem is often logistical, not just clinical. - The move positions virtual care as a way to reach people whose schedules, geography or family responsibilities make traditional treatment hard to use. - Shanti is framing virtual IOP as one part of a broader care continuum, not a substitute for higher-acuity treatment. - Dr. Urvi Natha, founder of Shanti Recovery & Wellness, said access should not depend on living near a facility or being able to rearrange life to attend.

What's next: - Californians seeking support for substance use, co-occurring mental health concerns or recovery needs can contact Shanti Recovery & Wellness for a confidential assessment and benefits verification. - Families, referral partners and community providers can also contact the organization to see whether virtual IOP is a fit. - Shanti is continuing efforts to expand insurance acceptance beyond Medi-Cal.

The bottom line: - Medi-Cal coverage for virtual IOP removes one more barrier for Californians who need structured treatment but cannot easily get to a clinic in person.