Virtual Addiction Treatment & Telehealth

Telehealth at Restoration Recovery

Restoration Recovery offers secure telehealth appointments for patients receiving addiction treatment across Tennessee and Georgia. Virtual visits allow you to meet with your provider through a live video connection using your phone, tablet, or computer — giving you access to the same clinical team and the same standard of care you receive in our offices, without needing to travel to a clinic location.

Telehealth is designed to complement our in-person services, not replace them entirely. It is especially valuable for ongoing medication management, scheduled counseling sessions, and routine follow-up appointments where a physical examination is not required. Patients who have completed their initial in-person evaluation can often transition a significant portion of their continuing care to virtual visits.

Who Qualifies for Telehealth Visits

Telehealth is available to both new and established patients, though the types of visits that can be conducted virtually depend on your treatment plan and clinical needs:

• Established MAT patients. If you are already receiving Suboxone treatment and have completed your initial in-person evaluation, most follow-up medication management appointments can be conducted via telehealth. Your provider can review your progress, adjust dosing, renew prescriptions, and address any concerns during a video visit.
• Counseling and therapy patients. Individual counseling sessions and certain group therapy components of our Intensive Outpatient Program may be available virtually, depending on your treatment plan and program requirements.
• New patient evaluations. Some new patient consultations and intake assessments can be completed via telehealth. Your care coordinator will determine whether your specific situation allows for a virtual initial visit or requires an in-person evaluation.
• Psychiatric medication management. Patients receiving psychiatric medications for co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, depression, or trauma-related disorders can attend follow-up appointments virtually.

How Telehealth Visits Work

Getting started with a telehealth appointment is straightforward. When you schedule a virtual visit, our team will provide you with a secure link to join the session at your appointment time. There is no special software to install.

To participate in a telehealth visit, you need:

• A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and microphone
• A stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data)
• A private, quiet space where you can speak openly with your provider

Your provider will conduct the visit in the same manner as an in-person appointment. You will be able to see and hear each other in real time, ask questions, discuss your treatment goals, and make decisions about your care together. Visit notes, prescriptions, and any follow-up instructions are documented in your medical record just as they would be during an office visit.

Services Available via Telehealth

The following services can be provided through our telehealth platform, depending on your individual treatment plan:

• Suboxone follow-up appointments. Prescription renewals, dosage adjustments, progress reviews, and taper planning for patients on buprenorphine maintenance therapy.
• Individual counseling. One-on-one sessions with a licensed counselor addressing substance use, coping strategies, relapse prevention, and co-occurring mental health concerns.
• Psychiatric medication management. Follow-up visits for medications prescribed to treat anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other conditions alongside your substance use disorder treatment.
• Care coordination check-ins. Brief follow-up appointments to review treatment milestones, update recovery plans, and connect you with additional resources.
• Peer support sessions. Certified peer recovery support available through virtual appointments.

Benefits of Virtual Addiction Treatment

Telehealth removes many of the practical barriers that can interfere with consistent treatment participation. For patients in recovery, consistency is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success. Virtual visits help by:

• Eliminating commute time. No driving, parking, or time away from work. A 20-minute follow-up takes 20 minutes, not two hours.
• Reducing missed appointments. Transportation problems, childcare conflicts, and scheduling difficulties are among the most common reasons patients miss appointments. Telehealth addresses all three.
• Serving rural and underserved areas. Patients in counties without nearby addiction treatment providers can receive the same evidence-based care as those near our clinic locations.
• Maintaining continuity of care. You see the same providers and clinical team you already know and trust. There is no disruption in your treatment relationship.
• Supporting patients with mobility limitations. Those with physical disabilities, chronic health conditions, or recovery-related challenges that make travel difficult can stay engaged in treatment.

Privacy and Security

All telehealth visits at Restoration Recovery are conducted on a platform that meets the strict privacy standards required for addiction treatment. Our system is:

• HIPAA compliant. All video sessions are encrypted end-to-end and meet the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
• 42 CFR Part 2 compliant. Substance use disorder treatment records receive an additional layer of federal confidentiality protection under 42 CFR Part 2. Our telehealth platform and internal processes comply fully with these regulations.
• Encrypted and secure. Session data is transmitted using industry-standard encryption protocols. No recordings are made of telehealth sessions unless required by clinical documentation standards and agreed upon by the patient.

Your addiction treatment records are never shared with employers, law enforcement, or third parties without your explicit written consent, regardless of whether your care is delivered in person or via telehealth.

Insurance Coverage for Telehealth

Most insurance plans now cover telehealth behavioral health services at the same rate as in-person visits. Restoration Recovery accepts a wide range of insurance providers for virtual appointments, including:

• TennCare and Tennessee Medicaid plans
• Georgia Medicaid
• BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
• Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and other major commercial plans

Our patient services team can verify your telehealth benefits before your appointment so there are no surprises. If you are unsure whether your plan covers virtual visits, contact us and we will check for you. For a full list of accepted insurance plans, visit our insurance page.

When In-Person Visits Are Required

While telehealth is appropriate for a wide range of ongoing treatment services, certain clinical situations require an in-person visit at one of our clinic locations:

• Initial MAT evaluations. Some first-time medication-assisted treatment evaluations require an in-person appointment for a complete medical assessment, particularly for Suboxone induction.
• Sublocade injections. Sublocade is a monthly subcutaneous injection that must be administered by a healthcare provider at one of our clinics. It cannot be given remotely.
• Urine drug screens. Periodic drug testing is a standard component of medication-assisted treatment and requires an in-person visit.
• Clinical situations requiring physical assessment. If your provider determines during a telehealth visit that an in-person examination is needed, they will coordinate with you to schedule a clinic appointment promptly.

Your treatment team will always communicate clearly about which appointments can be virtual and which require an office visit. The goal is to make your care as accessible as possible while maintaining the clinical rigor your recovery requires.

Available Across Tennessee and Georgia

Telehealth visits are available to patients located anywhere in Tennessee or Georgia, regardless of proximity to one of our four clinic locations in Chattanooga, Cleveland, Soddy-Daisy, and Ringgold. If you live in a rural area, have limited access to transportation, or simply prefer the convenience of virtual care for routine appointments, telehealth can be a central part of your treatment plan.

For a complete overview of all the treatment options available at Restoration Recovery, visit our services page.

Schedule a Telehealth Appointment

Whether you are an existing patient looking to schedule a virtual follow-up or a new patient exploring your treatment options, our team is ready to help. Contact us online to request an appointment, or call 423-498-2000 to speak with our staff directly. We will determine whether a telehealth visit is appropriate for your needs and get you scheduled promptly.