Medically reviewed by Dr. Jerrel Boyer, D.O. — Medical Director, Fresh Start Health Centers · Last reviewed: September 24, 2026
If you take Suboxone (buprenorphine) for opioid use disorder, you may wonder whether you still need to see a provider in person, or whether an app on your phone is enough. At Fresh Start Health, we offer in-person Suboxone treatment at four Eastern Kentucky clinics: Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg. You can also use telehealth when that fits your week better. This hybrid approach helps keep your treatment steady and close to home.
Why In-Person Visits Still Matter
Telehealth made it far easier to start Suboxone during the pandemic, and it remains a convenient option. But medication-assisted treatment works best when a clinic can see you, examine you, run labs, and adjust your care over time. In-person visits let us confirm your dose is right, screen for other health issues common in Eastern Kentucky, like hepatitis C, and build the kind of relationship that supports long-term recovery.
Federal telehealth rules also matter. Temporary federal telemedicine prescribing flexibilities currently run through December 31, 2026, and a separate, permanent buprenorphine telemedicine rule is also in effect, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Under that buprenorphine-specific pathway, telehealth prescriptions are limited to an initial six-month period; continued prescribing then requires an in-person evaluation or another legally authorized pathway. Not every patient needs an in-person visit at six months, but having a clinic nearby means an in-person option is always available within the same practice.
Our Four Eastern Kentucky Clinics
Each Fresh Start location offers Suboxone treatment and coordination with the rest of your care. Choose whichever is closest:
- Ashland — serving Boyd County and the Tri-State area near the Ohio and West Virginia borders.
- Grayson — serving Carter County and the surrounding I-64 communities.
- Morehead — serving Rowan County and the greater Morehead area.
- Vanceburg — serving Lewis County and the rural communities along the Ohio River.
Because our clinics are spread across the region, many patients in Eastern Kentucky are within a reasonable drive of at least one Fresh Start location. If getting to a clinic every time is hard, we can blend in-person and telehealth visits so you do not have to choose between your treatment and your job or family.
What an In-Person Suboxone Visit Looks Like
Your first in-person visit is a full evaluation. We review your history, talk through your goals, and confirm that buprenorphine is the right medication for you. If you are already stable on Suboxone, follow-up visits are shorter: we check in on how you are doing, review any side effects, refill your prescription, and connect you with counseling if you want it. Visit frequency depends on your stability; see how often MAT visits happen in Kentucky.
Buprenorphine, the active medication in Suboxone, is a medication approved by the FDA for treatment of opioid use disorder. We also offer longer-acting injectable options: Sublocade® (monthly) and Brixadi® (weekly or monthly), approved for treatment of moderate to severe opioid use disorder in patients who have initiated treatment with a transmucosal buprenorphine-containing product. Compare them in our guide to Brixadi vs. Sublocade vs. Suboxone. Treatment is individualized, and outcomes vary. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has more background on how buprenorphine works.
Insurance, Medicaid, and Cost
Fresh Start accepts Kentucky Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans. If you are unsure whether your plan covers medication-assisted treatment, call us and we will help you check. Coverage varies; contact your plan for specifics. We treat cost as a problem to solve together, and our guide on how to get Suboxone treatment in Kentucky covers options if you do not have insurance.
The Hybrid Advantage
If you use a telehealth-only service, ask how it arranges in-person care when needed and how it plans for regulatory changes. Fresh Start offers both telehealth and in-person visits at four Eastern Kentucky clinics, so you keep the same practice and the same records whether you are seen online or in the office. For a chronic condition like opioid use disorder, staying in treatment consistently is closely linked to better outcomes.
Your Privacy Is Protected
Your treatment records are protected under federal privacy laws including 42 CFR Part 2, which provides stronger confidentiality protections than standard HIPAA rules. Learn more in Is Suboxone treatment confidential?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to come in person, or can I do everything by telehealth?
Many follow-up visits can happen by telehealth. Whether and when you need an in-person visit depends on the federal prescribing pathway your clinician uses, your prior evaluations, and Kentucky rules. Because Fresh Start has four Eastern Kentucky clinics, an in-person visit is available within the same practice whenever you need or prefer one.
Which Fresh Start clinic should I go to for Suboxone?
Choose whichever is closest: Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, or Vanceburg. Each clinic offers Suboxone treatment. Call (606) 225-8200 to confirm which providers and services are available at your preferred location. If travel is difficult, we can blend in-person and telehealth visits so you do not have to choose between treatment and daily life.
Does Fresh Start accept Medicaid for Suboxone treatment?
Yes. Fresh Start accepts Kentucky Medicaid and many commercial insurance plans. Coverage varies by plan, so contact your plan for specifics, or call us and we will help you check what your insurance covers before your first visit.
What if my online Suboxone provider shuts down?
You can transfer your care to Fresh Start. We will review your history, confirm your dose, and, if buprenorphine remains right for you, continue your treatment in person or by telehealth. Do not stop your medication on your own; call us at (606) 225-8200 so we can help you plan a safe transition.
Is my Suboxone treatment kept confidential?
Yes. Your treatment records are protected under federal privacy laws including 42 CFR Part 2, which provides stronger confidentiality protections than standard HIPAA rules. In general, we cannot share your addiction treatment information without your written consent, except in limited situations the law allows.
Start In-Person Suboxone Care in Eastern Kentucky
Whether you are starting treatment for the first time or moving your care to a Kentucky-based provider, Fresh Start Health can help at our Ashland, Grayson, Morehead, and Vanceburg clinics. To get started, call us at (606) 225-8200 or use our chat function, and learn more about our addiction care services.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.