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In Pennsylvania, nearly all outpatient treatment providers of substance use disorder now offer telehealth services. That means patients can access treatment without an inpatient visit.
Research has found telehealth forms of SUD treatment are as effective as office-based programs, including medication-assisted treatment, if treatment is combined with phone access to counselors, peers, or doctors.
A recent opinion piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer argued for maintaining a pandemic policy that allows patients to start buprenorphine—one of the best ways we have to treat opioid use disorder—after a first visit using telemedicine. While an in-person visit is normally required, the article pointed out that requiring office visits can prove a hurdle to people seeking treatment.
Read our latest issue of The Response magazine to learn more about how telehealth and other virtual resources have proven beneficial to people in recovery throughout the pandemic.