Medication-Assisted Treatment Reaches 25 Clinics in Nine States

For someone stabilizing on medication for opioid use disorder, switching medications has usually meant switching providers. A medication-assisted treatment change announced September 1 removes that step at 25 clinics.

MedMark Treatment Centers said 25 of its opioid treatment programs across nine states are adding office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine and naloxone-based medications, including Suboxone, alongside the methadone maintenance programs those sites already run.

MedMark is part of BayMark Health Services. Both medications are forms of medication-assisted treatment. They’re both used to manage withdrawal and cravings in opioid use disorder.

Why the Two Medications Are Not Interchangeable

Methadone is a full opioid agonist dispensed through federally regulated opioid treatment programs. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist, which means it activates opioid receptors less completely and carries a ceiling on respiratory depression. Naloxone is added to most buprenorphine formulations to discourage misuse by injection.

The practical difference for patients is visit frequency. MedMark said patients receiving methadone through an opioid treatment program generally come to the center more often for their medication, while eligible patients in the office-based buprenorphine model may receive a prescription for up to a month at a time.

What Medication-Assisted Treatment Involves Here

The company said each patient will receive an assessment and an individualized treatment plan to determine which medication and what level of support fits their needs.

Both pathways at participating locations are supported by addiction treatment staff and may include individualized treatment planning, substance use counseling, recovery support services, and ongoing medical and clinical support.

“Treatment for opioid use disorder is not one-size-fits-all,” said Dan Greer, senior vice president of opioid treatment programs at BayMark Health Services, in the announcement. He said offering buprenorphine at locations already providing methadone gives patients more options while keeping their care with one treatment team.

Evelyn Sosa, who holds the same title at BayMark, said in the announcement that bringing the services together strengthens the ability to meet patients where they are, and that patients can receive either medication from a local team.

Where the Expansion Applies

MedMark listed participating centers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas.

Texas has the most participating sites with six, in El Paso, Fort Worth, Lufkin, Waco, and two in San Antonio. Georgia has four, in Blairsville, Chatsworth, Columbus North, and Savannah. Illinois has four, in Champaign, East Peoria, Normal, and Springfield.

Indiana has three, in Bloomington, Lafayette and Merrillville. Alabama has two, in Oxford and Dothan, and Florida has two, in Clearwater and Jacksonville. New Mexico has two, in Belen and Roswell. Arkansas has one in Springdale and North Carolina has one in Murphy.

The company noted that availability, admission requirements, health insurance coverage, and payment options may vary by location. It directed individuals and referring professionals to contact the nearest participating center for specifics.

Why This Matters for Detox and Withdrawal Management

Opioid withdrawal is rarely a one-time event. People move between medications for reasons that have nothing to do with motivation, including pregnancy, work schedules, transportation, side effects and how a given medication interacts with other prescriptions.

When those two medications sit at different organizations, a change in circumstance can mean a gap in coverage. Gaps in medication for opioid use disorder are when overdose risk climbs. Consolidating both options under one treatment team is intended to reduce that handoff, though the announcement does not report outcome data.

Finding Medical Detox and MAT Near You

If you are weighing your options, ask a prospective program which medications it offers on site, whether it can transition you between them without a referral elsewhere, and what the first week of dosing looks like. Ask what happens if you miss a dose and ask how the program coordinates with any other prescriber you see.

Detox.com lists medically supervised detox and medication-assisted treatment programs by state and city. Search detox centers near you to compare medication options, levels of care, and insurance accepted. You can also call 800-996-6135Sponsored to get in contact with a treatment specialist.