Factors to Consider When Referring a Patient to Telehealth-Based MOUD Treatment

Telehealth-based treatment at Bicycle Health is an accessible and convenient way to receive medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as Suboxone. You can meet virtually with one of our providers to receive a prescription and then pick it up at a local pharmacy. However, some patients are better suited for telehealth-based MOUD treatment than others. 

Provider Referral Considerations for Telehealth-Based Care

There are several factors to consider when deciding whether or not to refer a patient for telehealth-based MOUD treatment, such as at Bicycle Health. Someone may be a good candidate if they:

• Struggle with opioid misuse, opioid dependence, or opioid use disorder
• Have safe, stable housing where they can safely store their medications
• Have access to high-speed internet needed for telehealth visits
• Have psychological and emotional stability

A patient may not be a great candidate for telehealth-based MOUD treatment if they:

• Don’t have stable housing
• Don’t have access to the internet or mobile data to attend appointments
• Don’t have the cognitive capacity to use the internet or mobile data
• Don’t have a mailing address where they can receive urine drug testing kits
• Have severe mental illness like unmanaged schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with mania
• Are experiencing active suicidal or homicidal ideation or active psychotic symptoms like hallucinations or delusional thinking

Those who may not be the best fit for telehealth-based treatment likely require a higher level of care than a virtual treatment program can provide. For instance, inpatient treatment may be a more appropriate option.

A Comprehensive Evaluation Can Help

If you are a doctor or mental health professional and are unsure if your patient is right for Bicycle Health, you can go ahead and refer them to us. We will conduct a comprehensive evaluation at intake to determine if the patient might benefit from telehealth-based MOUD treatment.

Although there are some reasons for concern related to telehealth-based care, pregnancy, comorbid substance misuse, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions are not contraindications for a patient appropriately participating in our program. We can determine that based on the patient’s assessment.