Question on new Dr.

Hi Marie,
Any Doctor can apply to become a Certified Suboxone Provider, provided they take the training class required, apply and recieve their Assigned DEA number they must have to prescribe Suboxone. The DEA number they recieve is different from the one they recived when they first start the original practive.

In order for a doctor to qualify for a waiver under DATA 2000 must meet any one of more of the following criteria:

• The physician holds a subspecialty board certification in addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties.

• The physician holds an addiction certification from the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

• The physician holds a subspecialty board certification in addiction medicine from the American Osteopathic Association.

• The physician has, with respect to the treatment and management of opioid-addicted patients, completed not less than eight hours of training (through classroom situations, seminars at professional society meetings, electronic communications, or otherwise) that is provided by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Psychiatric Association, or any other organization that the Secretary determines is appropriate for purposes of this subclause.

• The physician has participated as an investigator in one or more clinical trials leading to the approval of a narcotic drug in schedule III, IV, or V for maintenance or detoxification treatment, as demonstrated by a statement submitted to the Secretary by the sponsor of such approved drug.

• The physician has such other training or experience as the State medical licensing board (of the State in which the physician will provide maintenance or detoxification treatment) considers to demonstrate the ability of the physician to treat and manage opioid-addicted patients.


• The physician has such other training or experience as the Secretary considers to demonstrate the ability of the physician to treat and manage opioid-addicted patients. Any criteria of the Secretary under this subclause shall be established by regulation. Any such criteria are effective only for 3 years after the date on which the criteria are promulgated, but may be extended for such additional discrete 3-year periods as the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of this subclause. Such an extension of criteria may only be effectuated through a statement published in the Federal Register by the Secretary during the 30-day period preceding the end of the 3-year period involved.


Once the provider jumps through the hoops that's not to say their going to be agreat provider, ( take a look at your last one) but at least they went through the training.
Not all doctors are like the last one you had.

There is a chance the OB/GYN is a good provider. Do you know how long they have been providing Services with Suboxone?
I guess the only way to find out to to meet with them.

As to the other provider, you can always go ahead and make the appointment just in case.
Beth had an experience with a OB at one point. This doctor was new to Suboxone and definately did not have his stuff together. He was completely clueless. It could be the OB that your going to see has decided to prescribe Suboxone in order to be able to help their OB patients.

I'm sorry that I've made this such a long winded reply.
Having to pay so much money up front is outrageous. How can anyone expect someone to be able to come up with that is beyond me. Especially with the way the economy is now. Not long ago I recived an email from a patient who was getting ready to enter into treatment.
The provider was charging over $900.00 for one month. And beyond that month there was no treatment. The doctor only did detox services. I sent them an email asking if they provided maintenance and their reply way they did not as they didn't belive in it.
To provided maintenance treatment with Suboxone would be an Oxymoron accroding the the doctor himself. He is the one that replied to me. I was left speechless and that doesn't happen very often.


Marie I really wish I could be there with you. I don't know what I could beyond offer support and ask a bunch of questions. You already know the questions to ask. Ask them and if you don't get the answers you want. You'll have your answer.
Do you have to pay out of pocket for the office visit? Or is this going to be covered by your insurance upfront?
Check in and let me know how you are.
Dee

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Hey Dee,
Yes,I have to pay 250.00 then 200.00 after. I don't know if my Ins. will give it back or not and if they do they may not pay it all. I hope I don't have trouble with the RX when I go to fill it since I'll have a new Dr.

There was another Dr. I had talked to and there is a part of me that wants to see her but I can't see her till Thurs. and I'm about to loose my damn mind. She only has a small practice that is strictly Suboxone. I'm not sure how I felt about that but I was able to speak to her personally. Her receptionist told me something about the DEA# would be different and she didn't think Ins. would pay for it. I have no idea what she was talking about. I was trying to call all these Dr. and my brain got scrambled.

I'm so scared I'll go tomorrow and for some reason he doesn't give it to me. I was thinking I wonder if he needs some kind of info like the other one did. It's hard to believe I just go in there and tell him the problem and I get a script. I just want to get back on the Suboxone really bad. I can't stand the way I feel..It's just horrible.

Dee,I wish you could be with me as well. My husband is going with me but I don't think he'll come in with me to see the Dr. I think he wants me back on it as well. He saw the difference then and now.

I'll let you know how it goes. Please keep me in your prayers.

Love,
Marie

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Thank you,Dee for taking the time to search for that. You so right,why cant they just answer the phone. It's very annoying.

I went to the new Dr. I had to pay for it and then he tells me I have to go back next week untill I have a clean UA. Are you kidding me? I doubt many ppl go for Suboxone will have a clean UA. Which means I have to pay another 200.00. At first he didn't want me to be on 24 mgs. but he did and said he would slowly wean me off it completely. I hate to keep changing Dr's but I don't think I'm very pleased with him either.

Then I go to the same Pharmacy and they said my Ins. denied it. I like to have lost it right there. So,she called the Ins. and then let it go thru. It was authorized for the film not pills of which I told the Dr. that. I feel like nobody ever listens to what I'm saying.

I'm feeling a lil better it's only been about 30min since I've taken a dose. The thought of coming up with more money so soon will weigh heavy on me. I wish they had told me that when I called.

Now,I'll have to get myself ready to fight the Ins. to try to get my money back or at least some of it.

I guess time will tell if I like this Dr. or not. He can't be any worse than the other one. They do answer there phone. A real person answers...Imagine that?

He did say he wanted me to bring my blue book that I have from the HeretoHelp program and that we would discuss things going on in my life. So,maybe that's good.

Beth and Dee,thank you both so much for being here for me. I really thought I'd have a nervous breakdown over all this. I'm still not sure what I feel but at least I have a chance to get back on the Suboxone.

Much Love To You Both

Marie

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Thanks Dee..
I think I have the code from the receipt. It doesn't say much though. Just checked it by the Limited/Intermediate and the receipt attached.

I forgot to tell you. He said I also tested positive for Darvon. I haven't aken Darvon in at least a year and it has been taken off the market. I think he saw it on my history and for some reason I was testing positive for something he didn't know.

In Jan. I was drug tested. I was on the pain pills and it came back positive for..Cocaine,Pot,Estacy a couple other things and NO opiates. I was on opiates and I was NOT on anything else. I demanded a blood test and of course that come back clean. Do you know that Dr. dropped me over that? She said it was to risky. So,I don't know what's going on with me and drug test.
I remember telling her I wouldn't know where to get thoses drugs. Of course she didn't believe me and I was so upset. It's one thing when I'm guilty but awhole different story when I'm innocent.

I'm getting ready to call the Pharmacy b/c I opened up one of the films and it's all broken. So I opened another to see how it was and it's all broken in pieces.

I need a vacation.

Thanks for everything.

Love,
Marie