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11 Investigates: Cash-only Suboxone clinics

PITTSBURGH — Hundreds of clinics in Western Pennsylvania work to help addicts stay clean and off heroin. But lawmakers have concerns about many of them, and how they operate. Specifically, some lawmakers are focusing on "cash-only" clinics, and want to regulate them.

Cash-only clinics do not accept insurance. Instead, they accept cash for appointments where addicts receive prescriptions for Suboxone, a drug that helps them stay clean. But some state officials say those clinics may not be providing exactly what addicts need to stay off heroin.

Jade Wellness in Monroeville is not a cash-only clinic and does accept insurance.  It was founded by Daniel Garrighan after his brother John Ryan Garrighan died of an overdose in 2011. While Garrighan said medication like Suboxone does help addicts, he adds that therapy is critical to recovery because it changes habits. But not every facility prescribing Suboxone also provides that therapy. Jade Wellness does.

Dozens of clinics in Western Pennsylvania are operating on a cash-only basis, charging patients $250 a month for a prescription for Suboxone. And there are significantly more cash clinics than clinics accepting insurance.

"That's why we're very concerned about cash clinics. With cash clinics, folks may be getting buprenorphine, or sometimes it's called Suboxone, but they won't be getting any other services. That's when the system doesn't work," said Ted Dallas, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

Dallas crafted new guidelines that will require cash clinics to provide more than just medication for Medicaid patients.

"The steps we announced are to make sure that system works as well as it should," Dallas said.

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Channel 11 spoke to a former addict and drug dealer who did not want to use his name.
 
"It's frustrating that you want to get help, but it's not there for you. It's cheaper to keep doing the same thing," he said.
 
He has stayed clean by using Suboxone for three years. He said he went to several cash clinics where he paid hundreds of dollars for appointments.
 
"When you're finally seen by the doctor, you're seen for like 30 seconds and you're out the door," he added.
 
11 Investigates showed its research to state Rep. Dan Miller, who sits on the Human Services Committee in the Pennsylvania House. He's now working on legislation to regulate cash-only clinics.
 
"I'm looking for ways to make sure the vast majority of people who are getting this medication are doing it in conjunction with therapy," said Miller.
 
 

Cox Media Group

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