Medication-Assisted Treatment in Pennsylvania

Yes! As long as you are getting buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) from a physician or physician assistant with a license to prescribe Suboxone, it is perfectly legal to get Suboxone prescription online. Providers who can prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) have received extra training and obtained a waiver (known as an “x” license) from the DEA. 
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Before you are prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), you will need to undergo an initial medical evaluation so that the doctor can ensure that it is an appropriate medication for you, though this does not require an in-person visit and can be done via telehealth (with video or telephone). 
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Once you have completed this assessment, the doctor will send a prescription to your preferred pharmacy. So, yes! You can find a licensed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) provider online and they can get you started on it via telehealth services without any in-person appointments.

The cost of buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) varies based on your insurance. Most Medicare and private insurance companies DO cover generic buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), though may specify the formulation (film vs tab) and set dose limits. The best way to find out is to contact your insurance company. 
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If you do not have insurance, the cost can vary based on the prescribed dose. Patients unable to afford buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) (regardless of insurance coverage) can apply for cost-assistance. The company that makes Suboxone offers this type of program to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses. To learn more, go to: inSupport program.

You can also get discounted buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) using pharmacy coupons or cash prizes. If you go to the GoodRx website (goodrx.com), you can enter in your zip code and find coupons and discounts at your pharmacy of choice. (On average, if you use GoodRx coupons/discounts, you can slash the typical price of generic Suboxone film from $395 to $118).

When you receive buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) through telehealth services there are several benefits:

Convenience: You can receive treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) without leaving the comfort of your own home and without traveling to and from a clinic. Many telehealth companies also offer drug-testing that you can do at home, helping hold you accountable to your recovery without traveling to a lab for testing.

‍Increased ACCESS to treatment: Irrespective of where you live, the doctor that prescribes you buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) could be from any state. This means that there are MORE doctors readily available, promoting more speedy initial treatment (getting you started) and ongoing treatment and support in your recovery. This includes better access to both medication and behavioral health treatment.

‍Pricing & Insurance coverage: Telehealth services are covered by your insurance at the same rate that in-person appointments are. Additionally, you do not have to spend money on transportation.

‍Appointment availability: With more providers available and in different locations (and different time zones) across the country, telehealth services offer more flexible appointment times.

‍They work!: Initial studies suggest that telehealth services may improve your ability to stay in recovery long-term and increase access to treatment, especially in urban, rural, and remote areas. Relapse rates are similar (when comparing in-person and telehealth services). Also, you can still build a meaningful relationship with your provider with telehealth services. So, you can reap the benefits of treatment over the phone or computer! 

Of course, there are also downsides. You may miss being physically connected to your treatment provider or other patients struggling with addiction. For some patients, leaving your house and showing up to an in-person visit holds you more accountable and gets you out of the monotony of your day. You will also have to adapt to the new phone and computer-based technologies, though most telehealth services will help you with this.

If you would like more support around addiction or mental health, SAMHSA’s national helpline (1-800-662-HELP/4357) is available 24/7, 365 days a year. It is a free and confidential service that can direct individuals or families to further treatment options. For example, if you need a detox program, an inpatient program, a dual diagnosis program (that treats both addiction AND mental health), an intensive outpatient program, if you would like to find a methadone clinic, or find a buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) provider based on your location, they can help direct you or your loved ones to the most appropriate next steps in treatment.

There are 3 evidence-based medications for opioid addiction:
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1- buprenorphine/naloxone (Subxone) which is available in outpatient clinics (at your primary care doctor’s office or a psychiatrist’s office)

2- naloxone (Vivitrol) which is available in outpatient clinics (at your primary care doctor’s office or a psychiatrist’s office)

3- methadone, which is available only through methadone clinics
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If you are interested in Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) offered entirely through telehealth services, visit bicyclehealth.com. To get help on finding other treatment options and levels of care (such as inpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs/IOPs, residential programs, and methadone clinics), call the SAMHSA  helpline at:
1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Yes, because of COVID-19, our addiction medicine doctors can write Suboxone prescriptions online. Before COVID-19, doctors who prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) were required to see each patient in person before writing that patient’s first Suboxone prescription. The in-person requirements were mandated by a law called the “Ryan Haight Act” which was passed by Congress in 2008. But because of the COVID-19 emergency, providers like the ones at Bicycle Health can write Suboxone prescriptions based on telehealth visits only. This eliminates the need for in-person visits for people who want to start treatment online with buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone). The ability for addiction medicine doctors to prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) to patients who start treatment after the COVID-19 emergency eventually ends is still up in the air. We are currently waiting for guidance from the federal government about whether addiction medicine doctors will continue to be able to write Suboxone prescriptions to new patients without an in-person visit once the COVID-19 emergency ends.

Online Suboxone doctors have at least as much training and experience as providers who work at in-person clinics. But online Suboxone doctors also can provide services and convenience that in-person providers cannot. With online providers like the ones at Bicycle Health, treatment and recovery support are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In-person clinics usually have limited hours, and appointments sometimes need to be made far in advance. Online Suboxone doctors also have other tools available that in-person clinics usually do not. For instance, Bicycle Health provides tools and resources other than medications through our web portal or through our app that patients can use anytime, anywhere.
 
For a lot of people, privacy can be a major concern. Bicycle Health protects patient privacy in ways that are impossible for in-person clinics. With an online Suboxone doctor, there is no chance of a patient being recognized in a clinic waiting room or having their car recognized in a clinic parking lot. And of course, there is no need to use a car at all because with an online Suboxone doctor, patients can have all of their visits at home or at any other private, convenient setting. Online Suboxone doctors like those at Bicycle Health can also be more affordable than in-person clinics, and we can tell you right away how much it will cost without even a single phone call. The cost at Bicycle Health can range from $0 per month to $199 per month. A quick look at our online Pricing Tool can show what it would cost for you, whether or not you have health insurance. 

It’s easy to schedule an appointment with the addiction medicine doctors at Bicycle Health and our website will check your cost at the same time. To see if we are available in your area and to make your first appointment, visit our scheduling tool here.

The short answer is, “yes, online addiction medicine doctors are legitimate.” The longer answer is that the online addiction medicine providers at Bicycle Health have at least as much training and experience as in-person addiction medicine doctors. And because Bicycle Health treats patients across the country, our online doctors meet the highest national standards. Our doctors have trained at some of the best medical residency programs and medical schools in the country including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania, University of Arizona, University of Kentucky, and many others. Numerous studies have shown that online addiction medicine is at least as good as in-person clinics, and has even better results than in-person clinics for many patients.