Medically reviewed by Dr. Jerrel Boyer, D.O. — Medical Director, Fresh Start Health Centers · Last reviewed: October 11, 2026
If you get your Suboxone (buprenorphine) prescription from a phone-only app or an online-only clinic, you may have noticed the ground shifting under you. Federal rules on prescribing controlled medications by telehealth have been extended again — but only temporarily — and a separate rule now says patients who start treatment online generally need an in-person visit to keep that treatment going past the first six months. For anyone in Eastern Kentucky relying on medication for opioid use disorder, that raises a fair question: is an online-only provider actually safe to depend on long term?
At Fresh Start Health, we think the safest setup is a hybrid one — a provider that offers the convenience of telehealth and real, physical clinics you can walk into. Here is why that combination matters, especially right now.
Telehealth is convenient — until the rules change
Telehealth has been a genuine breakthrough for addiction care. It removes the drive, the time off work, and a lot of the stigma. But telehealth for a controlled medication like buprenorphine depends on federal flexibilities that were first put in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Those flexibilities have now been extended four times, most recently through the end of 2026. They are not permanent law. An online-only clinic has no clinic to fall back on if those rules tighten or expire.
Separately, the finalized federal rule on prescribing buprenorphine by telemedicine requires an in-person evaluation to continue treatment beyond six months for patients who started care online. A provider with no physical location structurally cannot meet that requirement — which can leave patients scrambling to find a new prescriber, sometimes with little notice.
What a hybrid provider gives you that online-only can’t
A hybrid provider is one that treats you by video when that’s easiest, but also has clinics where a licensed provider can see you in person when needed. That flexibility protects your continuity of care in ways an app cannot:
- Continuity if telehealth rules change. If federal flexibilities narrow, your care doesn’t stop — you simply come into a clinic. Nothing about your prescription is left in limbo.
- The required in-person visit is built in. When an in-person evaluation is needed to keep your treatment going, it’s already part of the model, not an emergency scramble.
- Local, licensed, and accountable. A Kentucky-based provider is licensed in your state and rooted in your community — not a national call center that may or may not be able to see you.
- A real care team. In-person visits make it easier to manage labs, coordinate other health needs, and build the kind of relationship that supports long-term recovery.
How Fresh Start’s hybrid model works in Eastern Kentucky
Fresh Start Health operates four clinics across Eastern Kentucky — in Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg — and also offers telehealth visits across the state. That means you can do most of your care from home by video, and come into a nearby clinic when an in-person visit makes sense or is required. You get the convenience of telehealth without betting your recovery on rules that could change.
We offer the full range of medication for opioid use disorder, including Suboxone, Sublocade, and Brixadi, and we can help you find the option that fits your life. Fresh Start accepts Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans, and as a 340B covered entity we work hard to keep medications affordable. If you’re currently with an online-only provider and worried about what happens next, you don’t have to wait for a disruption to make a move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an online-only Suboxone provider safe to rely on long term?
Online-only providers depend on temporary federal telehealth flexibilities that have been extended only through the end of 2026, and a separate rule generally requires an in-person visit to continue buprenorphine treatment past six months — something a provider with no physical clinic cannot offer. A hybrid provider like Fresh Start Health, with telehealth plus four Eastern Kentucky clinics, protects your continuity of care if those rules change.
Can I switch from an online-only provider to Fresh Start Health?
Yes. Fresh Start Health accepts patients transferring from online-only or telehealth providers. We offer telehealth across Kentucky plus in-person care at our clinics in Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg, so your treatment continues without a gap. Call us at 606-225-8200 or use the chat function on our website to get started.
Do I have to come into a clinic, or can I still use telehealth?
You can do most of your care by telehealth. The advantage of a hybrid provider is that an in-person clinic is available when a visit is needed or required — so you get the convenience of telehealth without losing access to physical care.
Does Fresh Start accept Medicaid and insurance for addiction treatment?
Yes. Fresh Start Health accepts Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans, and as a 340B covered entity we work to keep medications like Suboxone, Sublocade, and Brixadi affordable.
Worried your online-only provider might not be there when the rules change? Fresh Start Health offers stable, Kentucky-based addiction care — telehealth plus four Eastern KY clinics. To get started or transfer your care, learn more about our addiction care, call us at 606-225-8200, or use the chat function on our website.