Suboxone Program

Thank you very much for your interest in obtaining treatment for opiate dependency with the medication Suboxone. To find out more about Suboxone, what it is, and how it works, please click on the following links (links will open in a new window). Then return to this page to learn about the details of my policies and procedures for the treatment of patients with opiate dependence. Please read the policies and procedures below IN FULL to decide whether you would like to continue your treatment with me.

http://www.naabt.org/education.cfm

http://www.suboxone.com/patients/suboxone/

Where Do I Start?

Treatment begins with a phone call and setting up the first appointment.

Payment for the initial appointment must be delivered to my office at least one week before the time of the appointment. This is to ensure that I reserve your appointment time. If I do not receive your payment one week in advance, I will open up your time slot for others to use. There are no exceptions to this policy. Appointments will be made on a first come basis.

At the time you drop off your payment, you will receive a packet to be completed and returned at the time of your first appointment. In this packet will be the following items:

1) A prescription to obtain Blood and Lab work. This work should ideally be done before the first visit. If you are not able to complete the work in that time, I require that I have the results within 30 days. There are no exceptions to this policy. This lab work may be obtained from your primary care physician or from a lab such as the one listed below. -Quest Diagnostics (Click on link for map)

-Results should be released and mailed to: Daniel Barton, M.D.

4414 Westlawn Drive

Nashville, TN 37209

2) Forms regarding general information about yourself and the issues you are concerned about.

3) General information concerning the medication Suboxone.

What Do I Do For The First Appointment and What Will It Be Like?

Please bring to the first appointment:

1) A valid photo identification

2) All remaining pills, pill bottles, substance, etc. (for proper disposal)

3) Completed paperwork

IT IS AN ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT THAT YOU DO NOT USE ANY OPIATE MEDICATIONS OR DRUGS 24 HOURS BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT. YOU MUST BE IN A STATE OF WITHDRAWAL AT THE TIME OF OUR FIRST MEETING IN ORDER FOR THE MEDICATION TO WORK.

Because of the nature of Suboxone, use of an opiate within 24 hours of the administration of Suboxone will result in an immediate and extremely uncomfortable withdrawal syndrome that CAN NOT be reversed. In other words, you must be in withdrawal for the medication to work properly. The Suboxone will relieve your discomfort shortly after administration.

You will receive a drug screen at the time of the first visit to screen for other substances. To note is that Suboxone is solely for the treatment of opiate abuse/ dependence. If you test positive for other substances (cocaine, methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, etc.) at the time of the first appointment, you will not be given the Suboxone, and agree to forfeit your payment for the first meeting. No exceptions are to be made for his policy. I will agree to see you again in the future if you wish, under the same conditions. Previous payment will NOT count towards your new appointment.

You will be administered your first dose of Suboxone in my office. We will then have a conversation to obtain additional information that will assist me in helping you to continue on your path towards recovery.

When we are done, you will receive a prescription for approximately one to two weeks of Suboxone to take with you.

The first meeting should last approximately 50 minutes to one hour.

Plan on checking in via phone at least twice over the next few days.

What About the Next Meetings?

If 30 days has gone by, it is imperative that I have your completed lab work in my possessions. Not having this information will result in me not being able to see you nor will I be able to give you additional prescriptions.

We will continue our conversations about how the process of recovery is going and plan for future meetings.

What Are Your Fees?

The fee for the initial visit is $450. This payment includes the cost for the initial meeting, the initial dose of Suboxone, the follow-up phone calls, as well as the cost of the first drug screen. Please remember that this payment is due at least one week prior to our actual appointment. Payment must be made in the form of cash or cashier’s check. No credit cards or personal checks will be accepted for the initial meeting.

Follow up meetings are $250 and last approximately 25 minutes. Appointments involving both medication management and psychotherapy last approximately 50 minutes and are charged at a different rate.

Payment should be arranged BEFORE all appointments. 

By agreeing to work with me in the maintenance of your medications, I reserve the right to request a random drug screen be completed in my office. You will be responsible for the additional $15 dollar cost of these screens.

I am considered an out of network provider for all insurance companies. What this means is that clients pay the fee at the time of the visit and I will send you a statement (approximately once a month) that will contain the information needed to file with your insurance. If you are not sure as to whether you have out of network benefits, I recommend that you call your insurance company for more information. I will not file insurance forms of any type, and will therefore leave the choice up to you as to whether you wish to contact and claim these visits to your insurance company.

How Often Will We Need to Meet?

Please plan on seeing me two to three times the first month (including the initial visit) so that we may obtain a stable dose that fits your needs. Plan on follow-up visits at a frequency of no less than once a month thereafter.

The frequency of our sessions will be determined by the two of us if you are interested in both medication management and psychotherapy.

Is There Anything Else Important to Know?

I take my part in your recovery very seriously and expect you to do so as well. I request that there be honesty between us as well as the understanding that you will not isolate yourself from our treatment (i.e. not returning phone calls, not attending appointments).

The occurrence of “dirty” drug screens may result in termination of treatment.

No prescriptions for Suboxone will be called in to a pharmacy. You are responsible for ensuring that the written prescription for Suboxone you obtain during your appointment makes it to the pharmacy. No additional prescriptions will be given due to lost or misplaced prescriptions until the next scheduled appointment. No exceptions to this rule will be made.

I am a Board Certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist. I am capable of prescribing multiple medications other than Suboxone, such as antidepressants and will do so if necessary. All medications relating to mental health treatment should therefore be obtained through me. I will not prescribe the class of medications known as benzodiazepines (xanax, klonipin, valium, ativan, etc.).

If I find out that the patient is “doctor shopping,” I will typically terminate treatment.

When Can I See You?

My office hours are 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Because I am also a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, I typically reserve the 3-5pm time slots for my child and adolescent population as that time is after school. Therefore, my ability to see you is partially dependent on your ability to be flexible in your scheduling. Please keep this in mind when agreeing to work with me.

What Now?

If you feel that the above policies and procedures do not fit within the type of treatment that you desire, I would encourage you to go to the following link (Additional Physicians) to try to find a provider that more closely fits your needs.

If you feel that the above procedures and policies fit within the type of treatment you want, please feel free to call me at 615-349-1820 to set up an appointment. I appreciate the opportunity to provide care to you or your family member, and look forward to working with you in the future.

IMPORTANT, PLEASE NOTE: When you call to leave a message about becoming a new patient, please say at the beginning of your message that you, “like pepperoni and pineapple pizza.” As silly as this sounds, this phrase lets me know that you actually read about the program in its entirety and are o.k. with everything. Thanks and take care.