FAQ's
Q: Who can use the hotline?
A: We serve anyone in the state of Washington who is 13 years of age or older and has opioid use disorder (OUD).
Q: How much does this service cost?
A: The telehealth visit with our provider is a free, non-billable service for everyone. However, the cost of your prescription is your responsibility and varies with your insurance coverage. If you have no insurance, we can provide coupons to help decrease the cost of your medication as much as possible.
Q: I already see a clinic or provider for buprenorphine, but I’m running out and can’t get an appointment in time. Can you help me?
A: Yes, we can provide bridge prescriptions to last until your next appointment with your provider. However, we cannot provide prescriptions for longer than 2 weeks at a time.
Q: When will I talk to the doctor? How soon after my telehealth visit can I get my prescription?
A: This can vary by call volume and provider schedules, but most patients can speak with a provider within an hour of calling the hotline. If the provider determines that a prescription is appropriate, the prescription is sent electronically to the pharmacy shortly after your visit. Pharmacy stock and processing times vary, but most patients can get their prescription the same day that they call the hotline. If you call outside of your pharmacy's hours or shortly before their closing time, you will likely need to wait until the next day to pick up your prescription.
Q: My loved one is using opioids, and I want them to stop. Can I call you for help?
A: Family and loved ones are an instrumental part of recovery. We are happy to provide resources and information on treatment options if you call for a loved one. If they wish to start buprenorphine through the hotline, they will need to speak directly with our staff for a telehealth visit.
We encourage you to give them our phone number and have them call us directly. We respect that everyone’s recovery process is unique. If your loved one does not wish to speak with us, we encourage them to call when they feel ready.
Q: What do I do after I get my prescription through the hotline? Do I call you again when I run out?
A: We are here to help when you urgently need a prescription or want to get started on buprenorphine quickly. However, it is our goal to connect you to an ongoing provider or clinic that can help you long-term. Our hotline is not intended to provide long-term care or refills of buprenorphine. Our dedicated Linkage to Care Coordinators will follow up with you within 72 hours to check in on how you’re doing and discuss options for ongoing care.
Q: Is there a limit to how many times I can use the hotline?
A: We are only able to prescribe buprenorphine through the hotline 3 times within a 3-month period. If we cannot prescribe to you, we are always happy to provide other resources and assess what barriers you are facing in connecting with ongoing care.
Q: I use Kratom or 7-OH and I am interested in treatment with buprenorphine. Can you help me?
A: We cannot prescribe buprenorphine solely for kratom or 7-OH use, but we can provide referrals for clinics that do.
Q: Can I call the hotline if I’m in the hospital?
A: Federal regulations prohibit receiving treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) from multiple providers simultaneously. This means we cannot prescribe medications if you are in a treatment center, inpatient facility, dialysis unit, emergency department, or similar setting. However, you’re welcome to call the hotline once you are no longer under their care, and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Q: I am interested in other forms of treatment like methadone, naltrexone, or injectable buprenorphine. Do you offer these options?
A: Our hotline only prescribes sublingual buprenorphine in the form of tablets or films at this time. We do not offer methadone, naltrexone, or injectable buprenorphine through our hotline, but we are happy to provide personalized referrals to places that offer whichever form of MOUD you are seeking.