Cost of outpatient addiction treatment programs
When you are considering the cost of a Suboxone treatment program you have to consider various costs associated with it. The only way to find these costs is to call the program and ask for these costs.
The information below is of a general nature describing programs and associated costs that are available in the community. For a fee schedule of my practice please check:
The costs will depend on where you are getting this treatment from. These costs do not include the cost of medications or laboratory tests.
| Description | Average Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential programs. Boarding, and lodging provided. Counseling, lectures, workshops, group sessions, etc., included. Duration 2 to 4 weeks. | $1000/day. Average $15000 to $30000. Covered by some insurances. |
| Intensive outpatient programs. Stay at your home and show up everyday for half day or full day programs. Counseling, lectures, workshops, group sessions, etc., included. Duration 1 to 4 weeks. | $500 to $1000 per day. Average $5000 to $15000. Covered by some insurances. |
| Inpatient Detox. Usually at a hospital or addiction treatment facility. Medications included. Most will provide Buprenorphine while you are at the facility, … but some do not. | Average $1000 per day. Duration 1 to 3 days. No continuity of care. Covered by some insurances including Medicare and Tricare. |
| Outpatient Suboxone Clinics. As long as needed. Best option for people who are working or studying. | $300 to $500 for enrollment. $100 to $300 for induction. $100 to $300 for follow-up visits which may be once a week to once a month. |
| Addiction workshops. Duration few weeks to few months. Drug Court programs run up to several years. | $20 to $150 per session. These are in the form of lectures and workshops. The sessions are not private. |
| Private Counseling. As often, and as long as you need it. | $60 to $150 per session. These are in the form of one on one private counseling sessions. |
The various costs to consider are:
- Application fee: Some programs charge an application fee to process your application. Usually these are residential programs. This is an administrative fee for intake and interview and sending the paperwork/online processing to your insurance carrier for approval, or applying to government bodies for grants or financial assistance for treatment. Doctors providing office based treatment generally do not charge any application fee.
- Enrollment fee: This is $300 to $500 for your initial enrollment. This is a time consuming process for the physician and staff. Every doctor that you visit has to do this process. It typically involves providing your ID, completing your contact information, reading and signing many consent forms and agreements, accepting the clinic policies. This is followed by a detailed review of your medical history, followed by a detailed physical examination.
- Induction fee: $100 to $300. This is charged if you need an induction. Induction is the process where you have to report to the facility in withdrawal, and Buprenorphine is administered to you in incremental doses to reduce the risk of precipitated withdrawal, and monitor for allergic reactions and side effects.
- Follow-up vists: $100 to $200. This follow up visit may be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on how intensive the program is. Some programs would reduce the frequency of visits as you make progress and reduce the dose of medication needed. Some programs tie this to number of months that you have not tested positive for opioids or other non permitted substances.
- Medication costs: $10 per tablet or film. One film a day = $10/day, and $300/month. Two films a day = $20/day, and $600/month. Some people can do it in as little as three months. Most take a year or longer.
- Counseling: Some programs provide counseling that is included in the program fee, or they will provide various options with different costs. Some programs do not include counseling and instead require that you go to a counselor of your choice and provide counseling record. Others provide minimal counseling and ask you to supplement it with additional Narcotics Anonymous and church based 12 step programs.
- Cost of urine drug screens: Almost every program will require you to have urine drug screens. Some programs use inexpensive urine drug screen cups which carry a charge of $25 to $50, or use less expensive test cards and test for less drugs. Other programs may use very expensive off-site GC/MS testing that costs $100 to $500 per sample. Some will do this only if the preliminary screening is positive.
- Additional tests: Most programs require a CHEM-7, CBC, and an EKG. If you are an IV drug user or have additional medical problems then additional diagnostic tests are required, and charged accordingly. These tests are usually covered by your insurance policy if done through your PCP.
- Testosterone replacement: For men. Long term opioid use interferes with testosterone production. Male patients should get tested and if their testosterone level is below normal, should seek replacement therapy. The injection is the least expensive replacement method. Testosterone creams and sprays are also available. Testosterone is a controlled substance and products containing this medication are only available by prescription. Anything that you can get over the counter does not have testosterone and will not boost your testosterone.
This page was last modified on: April 22, 2020