Rehab & Recovery Center
Houston, TX
Case Study · Healthcare
HIPAA-compliant ads that drove 4.2x ROAS
A Houston rehab center was burning through ad budget with a $485 CPL and compliance concerns. In 6 months, we built a HIPAA-compliant full-funnel system that dropped CPL to $127 and increased qualified admissions by 340%.
0.0x
ROAS Achieved
0.0%
CPL Reduction
0%
More Admissions
0%
Lead Quality Improvement
The Challenge
High CPL, compliance risk, and wasted budget
The center was spending aggressively on paid media but had no compliance framework in place. Broad targeting was pulling in unqualified leads at $485 each, and their existing ad setup risked HIPAA violations through prohibited audience targeting and non-compliant tracking.
$485 cost per lead
4x higher than industry benchmarks
HIPAA compliance gaps
Prohibited targeting parameters active in campaigns
Broad, unqualified audiences
Ad spend burning on low-intent traffic
The Strategy
Compliance-first, performance-driven
HIPAA-Compliant Audit & Setup
Reviewed all existing campaigns for compliance violations. Implemented server-side tracking and removed any prohibited targeting parameters.
Audience Architecture
Built custom audience segments using compliant first-party data. Created lookalike audiences from verified admissions data.
Full-Funnel Campaign Structure
Top-of-funnel awareness campaigns targeting family members and referral sources. Mid-funnel retargeting with educational content. Bottom-funnel conversion campaigns for intake calls.
Landing Page Optimization
Redesigned intake pages with HIPAA-compliant forms, click-to-call CTAs, and trust signals. A/B tested 12 variations over 3 months.
Google Ads High-Intent Capture
Targeted high-intent keywords like "rehab center near me" and "addiction treatment Houston." Implemented call tracking with compliant recording disclaimers.
Ongoing Optimization
Weekly bid adjustments, negative keyword expansion, creative rotation, and budget reallocation based on admission-level ROAS data.
The Results
Before vs. after — the numbers speak
Before
After
Performance comparison
Cost Per Lead
Monthly Admissions
ROAS
Timeline
6 months from audit to 4.2x ROAS
Month 1
Compliance audit, tracking setup, campaign architecture
Month 2
Campaign launch, initial data collection, first optimizations
Month 3
Scaling winning ad sets, killing underperformers, landing page A/B tests
Month 4
Full retargeting funnel live, Google Ads expansion
Month 5
Budget increase on top performers, CPL hits $140
Month 6
Campaign maturity — 4.2x ROAS achieved, CPL at $127
Key Takeaway
HIPAA compliance isn't a barrier to effective digital marketing — it's a competitive advantage. Most rehab centers avoid paid media because they're afraid of violations. By building compliant-first campaigns, we captured high-intent demand that competitors left on the table.
Ureb Arif
Growth Marketing Consultant
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