Mountainside Reminds Patients about Deducting Addiction: Writing Off Medical Expenses on Tax Day

Canaan, CT (PRWEB) April 11, 2014

It's tax time. As Americans scramble to find their calculators and receipts from 2013, Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center reminds former clients and others suffering with addiction that their alcohol and substance abuse treatments are on the Internal Revenue Service's list of qualified medical expenses.

"As our patients regain their health, they're more interested in moving forward than looking back," said a Mountainside spokesperson. "However, they should take the time to reflect on their successful healing and recoup some of the financial investment in their recovery."

According to the IRS, deductible drug and alcohol addiction treatment expenses include: the costs of diagnosis; inpatient treatment at a therapeutic center for drug or alcohol addiction, including meals and lodging costs; payments for legal medical services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners; the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes; and transportation to and from local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings pursuant to medical advice.

To claim these medical expenses, filers will need to itemize their deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040). Medical and dental expenses need to add up to more than 10 percent of their adjusted gross income. The IRS recognizes self-pay drug or alcohol treatment expenses only--not those paid by insurance companies or other third-party sources, regardless of whether the payments were made directly to the patient for payment of a treatment provider.

Parents who have assumed the financial costs for their child's addiction treatment should also note that they can recoup a portion of their expenses as long as the IRS recognizes that child as a dependent. In fact, the IRS allows a wide range of options for qualifying relatives, like grandchildren, aunts, and in-laws. Families that have paid for a loved one's treatment should certainly look into the opportunity to deduct.

"At Mountainside, we believe it is critical to support not only our clients but their families as well. We encourage families to take advantage of these deductions to maintain their financial health," said a Mountainside spokesperson.

The April 15th deadline for filing is right around the corner, but there's still time to include these deductions.

To learn more about Mountainside's treatment programs for alcohol and drug abuse, visit http://www.Mountainside.com.

About Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center

Mountainside is nationally recognized for the effectiveness of its drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs. Our Integrative Care Model provides a comprehensive set of treatment and care offerings coordinated by a multidisciplinary treatment team to best fit the unique needs and interests of each client. We are lauded for our ability to partner with each client and the client's family and healthcare professionals in developing and executing individualized treatment plans that promote long-term sobriety.

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