Frequently Asked Questions
Privacy
Yes, your family is welcome to join you. We also offer a play area for kids. However, There may be exceptions when your provider needs to speak with you alone, and we need your permission before family members may accompany you in the exam room.
By federal law, information may only be shared with other parties after you have given signed permission, or from a court order signed by judge.
No. You alone decide what information to share with others.
Treatment
Before you come to your first visit, gather some important documents. At your first visit with us, we ask that you bring a photo ID, your insurance card if you have one, and that you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete initial paperwork. Your first appointment will last approximately 1.5 hours.
While your treatment plan requires at least one meeting per month at our facility, we encourage you to regularly participate not only in the meetings required at RRC locations, but 12 step recovery meetings in your community as well. Lasting recovery is achieved by actively addressing the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.
An individualized treatment plan will be established specifically for you, so the length of treatment depends on each patient. It is not unusual for treatment plans to be adjusted over time based upon new clinical information.
All of our providers are fully qualified medical practitioners who are able to address virtually any of your healthcare needs. Referrals are available when necessary.
Most treatment plans require consistent visits to assure compliance and proper treatment acclimation.
Each member of our staff is intimately familiar with the 12-step recovery program. This gives them a unique understanding of addiction and, more importantly, recovery. Most RRC providers are board certified addictionologists.
Drug screening is a valuable tool that our physicians use for two primary purposes: to monitor medication levels and assure treatment compliance.
Policies
Provided that you call to reschedule, we will be happy to make a new appointment for you at a later time.
All RRC patients must be at least 18 years of age.
Payment
We do not accept insurance payments for office visits, however, we will provide you with the necessary documentation required if your insurance covers the cost of your medications. Some insurances will also reimburse you personally, if you submit a claim. While we are unable to submit these claims on your behalf, we will assist you should you chose to request reimbursement from your insurance.
Most insurance carriers will pay for all or a part of your medications. If necessary, RRC staff will assist you in filing the required paper work.
We accept cash, check, money order, debit cards, and major credit cards. What if I can’t pay for my visit? The policy of RRC is to require full payment for services at the time they are given.
For security reasons, payments are only accepted in person.
Suboxone ©
Suboxone© (buprenorphine + naloxone) has been approved for the treatment of opiate dependence. It is actually two drugs in one. Buprenorphine – This is the active ingredient in Suboxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it can both activate and block opiate receptors, depending on the clinical situation. Naloxone – This drug is an opiate antagonist, meaning it blocks the effects of opiates.
When opiates are taken into the body, they attach to receptors in the brain, causing dopamine release and euphoria. When Suboxone is taken, the buprenorphine attaches to the receptors in the brain once occupied by opiates. Because the receptors are no longer empty, withdrawal symptoms diminish.
We have worked with people who stay on Suboxone long-term, although some use the medication for a shorter period of time than others. The medication alone will only help with the physical aspects of the disease. Real healing requires treatment of the emotional and spiritual aspects of the disease—which happens in 12 step meetings, fellowship and therapy. Your physician will guide you in making this decision, based on your progress in treatment.
Absolutely! Our therapy groups and twelve step meetings are offered at multiple days and times throughout the week. We work very hard to have hours that are convenient to our patients, and this includes nights and weekends at all of our locations.
Some of the mild side effects that have been reported are flushing, headache, nausea, sleeplessness, or drowsiness. Most of these issues have been reported to subside after the first week or so of treatment. This is not, however, a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, our doctors and staff will discuss your concerns with you.
No. As used in treatment, Suboxone is not an opiate substitute. It is a safe and effective medication for opiate addiction that is administered by mouth in regular, fixed doses. According to research, patients undergoing Suboxone treatment do not suffer the medical abnormalities and behavioral destabilization that rapid fluctuations in drug levels cause in active addicts.
Most pharmacies carry all medications prescribed by RRC providers.
HIPPA
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL RELATED INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED, AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY. Reach Recovery Center is required to abide by the terms of this notice. The medical information we maintain may come from any of the providers from whom you have received services. The medical information we record and maintain is known as Protected Health Information, or PHI. We will not use or disclose your PHI without your permission, except as described in this notice. Information regarding your healthcare, including payment for healthcare, is protected by two federal laws: the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA), 42 U.S.C. 1320d et seq., 45 F.F.R. Parts 160 & 164, and the Confidentiality Law, 42 U.S.C 290dd-2, 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Under these laws, Reach Recovery Center may not say to a person outside Reach Recovery Center that you attend the program, nor may Reach Recovery Center disclose any information identifying you as an alcohol or drug abuser, or disclose any other PHI except as permitted by federal law. We reserve the right to change our practices and to make the new provisions effective for all medical information we maintain. Should our medical information practices change, we will amend this notice and post a notice of the changes, which will be made available to anyone upon request. This notice is effective as of February 01, 2012.
Reach Recovery Center must obtain your written consent before it can disclose information about you for payment purposes. Generally, you must also sign a written authorization before Reach Recovery Center can share information for treatment purposes or for healthcare operations. However, federal law permits Reach Recovery Center to disclose information without your written permission for the following: Pursuant to an agreement with a person or agency that provides services to Reach Recovery Center For research, audit or evaluation To report a crime committed on Reach Recovery Center premises or against Reach Recovery Center personnel To medical personnel in a medical emergency To appropriate authorities to report suspected child abuse or neglect As allowed by court order Before Reach Recovery Center can use or disclose any information about your health in a manner which has not been described above, it must first obtain your specific written authorization allowing it to make the disclosure. You may revoke any such written authorization in writing, except that we have already acted on it.