Are these fee the avarage?

[TrayCee]

I received this email today from a Sub/Bup Dr. in my area today, just wondering if this fee is the norm.  Any feedback is appreciated  


Hello. I hope you are doing alright today.I reviewed your application on ****.org and would like to speak with you about your treatment. Please call my office (423-***-8477) any day 10;00 AM - 7:00PM. We will take your information and return your phone call. Mention that you received this email through NAABT.org. . My fees are 600.00 1st visit and 150.00 for each month after the first visit which includes a comprehensive urine screen. We become your advocate for legal issues etc. I do not accept insurance.Good luck with any of your continued atempts to get off narcotics

[Flutterby111]

Well, I don't know about all this.....  I'm thrown for a loop when I read about these highway robbery rates.  I got the script from my psychiatrist, who happens to work at a rehab facility and is on of 2 drs in health partners that can prescribe Sub.  My insurance not only covered the visits, but the script.  I just got 90 2 mg pills which is a month supply for $51.00.  The retail value of the script was $350.00 which was noted on the bag.  So, please consider that.  Why don't they acept insurance.  I'd check around the medical field first before jumping on one of these expensive avenues.

[lifesaride]

my 1st visit was 200 and everyone after 100

[wait2long]

i got real lucky..i was my doctors first patient that was strictly on methadone to transition to suboxone ...no fees for the first 6 months...now i pay 50 bucks every 3 months that includes my UA...and she does home visits...but she is also the only sub doctor in my area...i am so grateful to her...i am very lucky!
that sounds like highway robbery to me...especially when they state we do not accept insurance...WHY???  because the insurance would NEVER pay their ridiculous fees for overcharging patients...i would write him a nasty letter...lol!

[mr.lucky66]

why are they charging so much? I think this is a trend and I wish these docs would keep these coruses of sub short instead of milking fees .

[mr.lucky66]

PS When a doctor  say's he doesn't take ins. , watch out. It's like the dope docs that charge cash for oxy scripts.

[SableZen]

From what I understand about not accepting insurance (and this applies to more than just drug rehab): Most insurance companies have established ridiculous and unrealistic (read 'least costly' to them) protocols on how the practice must handle detoxing treatments in order to qualify for reimbursement. Most doctors would probably make more money in the long-run if they could charge the insurance companies (reality is practices inflate prices to counter the cost and delay of handling paperwork and all the hassles of billing insurance). But in the case of drug rehab, the insurance companies that do bother to cover rehab have set such strict and unrealistic amounts, most doctors refuse to even work with them at all.

[Flutterby111]

My insurance covers no chemical dependency/rehab at all.  But it does cover this drug, isn't that odd?

[Sportsguy86]

you're 41??

[wait2long]

i will assume your talking to me?  yes i am...

[wait2long]

ooops...sorry i see tracee is 41 also...no, she doesnt look it!

[SableZen]

I wonder if your insurance company has a set protocol established on how long you can be on Suboxone?

It is interesting, but in the long run it's probably cheaper for them to have their clients take the relatively inexpensive route of at-home detox with Suboxone compared to in-patient detox, rehab, or office visits and costs of clients continuing with a prescription based addiction. At any rate, they'll probably not cover any more prescriptions for opiates now that they know... O_o

[SableZen]

Neither of you look it! lol

[wait2long]

you bring up some interesting facts sablezen...i would have never even thought about any of that...but i have no insurance...cash for everything...

[wait2long]

good one sablezen...thank you, i was hoping the macaw didnt take away from my gown......lol!

[SableZen]

Well I'm pretty sure it's the wings... they make you seem so... youthful and angelic. lol

[Flutterby111]

Interesting! ♪ ♫   I wonder!  I should call and ask if there is a deadline or limit on the Sub.  I would think they would've mentioned it though.  Kinda like my physical therapy or acupuncture....15visit limit per year.....I'll check into that.  But I called last week to make sure the Sub was covered.  YEah, you do bring up some interesting thoughts.  well, I shouldn't be needing any opiates anyways, so that's a good thing.  

[wait2long]

angelic? youthful?  now i know your looking at the wrong picture...lol!
but i'll take it...lol! thanks!

[faith_hope_love]

I don't know what is average but I do agree with Mr.Lucky that some of these drs. are disgusting with what they charge.  For example, we have 2 sub. drs. in my town.  The first one I called wanted $1,000 for the first visit!!  And to top that off his receptionist was pretty rude.

I called the next dr. and luckily he only charges $300 and his receptionist was not only nice but she took the time to talk to me for a while.  At least I will only have one visit and one prescription.

Has anyone ever heard of a sub dr. charging $1,000?  He is getting rich off of people's despair.

[TrayCee]

Thanks so much! I really didnt think that was right.  I seriously cant pay thoses fees and dont even "really" want to go on Sub/Bup anyway.  I just like to know all my options.
Thanks for the replies

[wait2long]

yes...i hear of it often...but remember...some of these doctors supply the meds and therapy/counseling...but you dont have to pay it..like you found there are other doctors....
how do you now you will only have 1 appointment? beware of that plan, some Dr's require you come back after 2 or 4 days for a recheck and only give enough meds for 2-4 days...you might want to ask to be sure...
SableZen had a good point about insurance and sub doctors...above.

[puranx]

on a side note, is that you in your profile? Holy smokes you look good, you look 18 lol. I think the Dr will lower his costs just cause your hot ...im just joking around.

But ya those prices are pretty norm, i have seen lower and higher believe it or not. Thats my gripe with sub dr's, they keep you on it WAY longer then you should and get you hooked on it so they can make the big money. Proof is right there.

[TrayCee]

haha, yes thats me, it was taken on The MayerCraft Carrier in Feb.  John Mayer Cruise.  HAD A BLAST btw :)
and Thank you.

[hopsing94]

My doctor does not accept insurance either. 350 for first visit. 100.00 for each visit after that and he is getting the meds through a pharmacy and dispensing them to me. So even though the meds are covered by my insurance I'm not able to use it. I don't like this and I'm gonna switch doctors as soon as possible.
  Now about the sub. I just completed 1 week and so far so good. It hasn't been the miracle drug so many say it is. Maybe its just me. Now today I feel great and I have felt pretty darn good the last week. I still grit my teeth at times and can tell I'm on something. This has bothered me because I really want to feel as though I'm on nothing. The cravings are gone completely. I have no desire for pills. I don't look for them and have even talked to my connection and was able to say no thanks like it was nothing. Today I left the house and forgot my sub at home. I turned around and went back to get it. I only took 2 mg yesterday. So in one week I went from 8 mg to 2 mg a day. If things keep going like this my plan of three weeks should be no problem. If after 3 weeks I finish the sub and start to have cravings I can simply take a tablet and get rid of my craving. This by far is the best thing. I can fight off cravings at any time. That will help with relapse so much. Flutter told me about a website for sub people and I checked it out. It didn't take long for me to disagree with some folks there but there really is alot of useful info there. This forum is where I belong,no doubt about that. Anyway don't give up on it. I think this is really going to work for me.

[wait2long]

nah, not true...you dont have to pay it...its a choice to pay that much or not, there are doctors who do care, staying on it long term is a choice, if your informed, you'll make the right decision for you...if you arent aware that sub can be addictive then you didnt do your homework or your expecting miracles...theres enough info out there... so if you get hooked whose fault is it???