Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really have to drive almost an hour to Soddy-Daisy, or is there something closer?
The closest Restoration Recovery clinic to Bledsoe County is Soddy-Daisy, about 50 minutes south of Pikeville via US-127. For your first visit, yes — an in-person evaluation is required under DEA rules for initial buprenorphine prescribing, and we do not currently have a clinic inside Bledsoe County. After the first visit, though, the large majority of follow-ups can be done from home via HIPAA-compliant telehealth. For most Bledsoe County patients, the drive is a one-time or occasional trip rather than a routine one.
How many of my appointments can actually be telehealth?
After the initial in-person evaluation, medication-management visits, counseling sessions, and most follow-up contacts can be handled by secure video. There are a few checkpoints in any MAT treatment plan that benefit from an in-person visit — for example, Sublocade and Brixadi injections must be administered in the clinic, and occasional drug testing may be requested. Most Bledsoe County patients come to the clinic once every 4–12 weeks and do everything else by phone or video. Your provider will set the schedule with you at the first visit based on where you are clinically.
Which clinic should I go to — Soddy-Daisy or Chattanooga?
Soddy-Daisy is the closest at about 50 minutes from Pikeville, but it runs Monday and Wednesday only. Our Chattanooga clinic is 10–15 minutes further south (about 1 hour 15 minutes from Pikeville) but runs Monday through Friday. If your work or school schedule isn't flexible on Mondays and Wednesdays, Chattanooga may be the better fit. Both clinics offer the same medications (Suboxone, Sublocade, Brixadi, Vivitrol) and the same providers organization-wide. Call 423-498-2000 and we'll help you pick.
What about weather — what happens if I can't get down the mountain?
Winter weather on the Cumberland Plateau is a real consideration. If you have an in-person appointment scheduled and the roads are genuinely unsafe, call us as early as possible and we will reschedule or switch the appointment to a telehealth visit if it's the kind of visit that can be done remotely. We would rather flex our schedule than have a patient risk a drive down US-127 in ice. For ongoing medication management, telehealth is the default — weather rarely affects continuity of care.
I'm coming out of Bledsoe CCX. Can I set up treatment before release?
Yes, and we strongly encourage it. The first 72 hours after release are the highest-risk window for fatal overdose in Tennessee. If you are within 30 days of release, call 423-498-2000 or have a family member call on your behalf. We will schedule a first in-person appointment aligned with your release date so you can start MAT without a care gap. This is one of the most important things a family member can do in the month leading up to a loved one's release.
How quickly can I start treatment?
Most Bledsoe County patients are seen within the same week. Call 423-498-2000 or request an appointment online. Many patients begin Suboxone on their first visit (Sublocade and Brixadi injections are ordered at the first visit and administered at a follow-up).
Will my treatment be confidential in a small county?
Yes. All treatment at Restoration Recovery is protected by HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 — the strictest federal privacy standard for substance use treatment. Your records cannot be shared without your written consent, including with family, employers, other providers, or local agencies. For patients worried about running into someone they know, driving to Soddy-Daisy rather than a Pikeville provider is itself an extra layer of privacy. Telehealth adds another layer — no one sees you walk into a building.
What insurance do you accept for Bledsoe County residents?
We accept TennCare (BlueCare is the dominant managed-care organization in this region), Medicaid, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Cigna, Aetna, Ambetter, UnitedHealthcare, and most major commercial plans. For uninsured residents, we have sliding-scale and self-pay options — don't assume you can't afford to start without calling first. Check your coverage here.
Do I need to stop using opioids before my first appointment?
You do not need to be completely off opioids before coming in. Your provider will evaluate where you are and guide you through a safe transition onto Suboxone. In most cases, you should be in early withdrawal before your first dose — your provider will explain exactly what to expect during the phone intake before your drive down.