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The monthly injection workflow for Sublocade care

See how evaluation, scheduling, repeat follow-up, and injection timing fit together when the treatment plan is organized around monthly visits.

The practical workflow usually includes evaluation, review of recent opioid and buprenorphine use, benefits verification, specialty-pharmacy coordination, scheduling of the in-clinic injection, and repeat monthly follow-up. If patients are also working with therapy, psychiatry, primary care, or another addiction clinician, the medication plan can be coordinated instead of treated like a standalone one-off injection visit.

Many major insurance plans are accepted for addiction medicine visits, including Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Healthfirst, MetroPlus, Fidelis, UnitedHealthcare, United Healthcare Community Plan, EmblemHealth, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and many commercial plans. Because Sublocade can involve both the office visit and the medication, the team reviews benefits, prior authorization needs, and specialty-pharmacy steps before the injection is scheduled.

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This part of care needs its own explanation The first phase covers evaluation, transition review when needed, benefits confirmation, and medication coordination so the plan is lined up before a treatment slot is used.

Monthly injection workflow in plain language

The practical workflow usually includes evaluation, review of recent opioid and buprenorphine use, benefits verification, specialty-pharmacy coordination, scheduling of the in-clinic injection, and repeat monthly follow-up. If patients are also working with therapy, psychiatry, primary care, or another addiction clinician, the medication plan can be coordinated instead of treated like a standalone one-off injection visit.

Before the first injection

The first phase covers evaluation, transition review when needed, benefits confirmation, and medication coordination so the plan is lined up before a treatment slot is used.

Monthly visit structure

Each month is organized around an in-clinic injection visit rather than a retail pickup. That changes how scheduling, symptoms, and next steps are handled.

Why repeat access matters

Patients should choose a location they can keep returning to. Monthly medication only works well when the clinic is actually realistic for repeat follow-up.

What happens if the timeline shifts

Delays, pharmacy timing, benefits changes, or scheduling gaps need active review. The right workflow keeps those issues visible so they can be handled before treatment is disrupted.

Insurance and planning notes

Many major insurance plans are accepted for addiction medicine visits, including Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Healthfirst, MetroPlus, Fidelis, UnitedHealthcare, United Healthcare Community Plan, EmblemHealth, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and many commercial plans. Because Sublocade can involve both the office visit and the medication, the team reviews benefits, prior authorization needs, and specialty-pharmacy steps before the injection is scheduled.

Self-pay requests can also be reviewed. Because Sublocade includes a monthly medication plus in-clinic administration, visit fees, medication costs, and pharmacy logistics should be clarified before treatment starts.

Patients move faster when the clinical fit, the monthly schedule, and the medication logistics are clarified before an injection slot is treated like a guaranteed next step.

Sublocade locations across the network

Pick the location that makes monthly injection follow-up realistic, then use the local details for directions, booking, and repeat-visit context.

More Sublocade care options

Transition from oral buprenorphine

The first question is not just whether someone wants the injection. It is whether recent opioid use, current buprenorphine treatment, and medication tolerance support a safe transition.

Specialty-pharmacy coordination

Sublocade is not picked up from a standard retail pharmacy. The medication is coordinated through certified handling pathways and administered by a provider in clinic.

Active injection locations

The Sublocade family currently covers Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Long Island so the treatment plan does not depend on one hard-to-reach clinic.

Related treatment options

Vivitrol treatment

A separate injectable pathway is available when the question is monthly naltrexone rather than monthly buprenorphine.

Medication options

Medication comparison separates Suboxone, Sublocade, Vivitrol, and naloxone safety planning so patients can understand which question each one answers.

Buprenorphine treatment

Buprenorphine guidance explains how daily treatment and longer-acting injection care fit into the broader medication plan.

Online Suboxone treatment

Telemedicine can support evaluation and follow-up when clinically appropriate, with local locations available when in-person care is needed.

Same-day Suboxone access

When the immediate issue is how fast someone can be evaluated and started safely, the same-day pathway matters more than the injection discussion.

Bridge prescriptions

Short-gap medication questions are handled through the bridge pathway rather than improvised refill assumptions.

Questions patients usually ask

The first step usually covers opioid use history, recent buprenorphine exposure, medication safety, benefits review, pharmacy coordination, and whether the patient is ready for a monthly injection plan.
Monthly follow-up can include symptom review, timing of the next injection, medication safety, relapse-risk discussion, care coordination, and planning around therapy, psychiatry, or primary care when needed.
If a monthly visit is delayed, the team reviews symptoms, current safety, medication history, and the best next step instead of guessing from an old schedule.

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What patients say about Nao Medical

Verified Patient
(4.9)

The monthly process was explained in a way I could actually follow.

Verified Patient
(4.9)

Scheduling and follow-up were discussed before the injection plan moved forward.

Verified Patient
(4.9)

The team explained more than just the medication name.

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Keep the next step simple

When the treatment path makes sense, location details handle the practical part: directions, booking, and a clinic that works for repeat monthly follow-up.

See active Sublocade locations

Focused care or a more supported outpatient program

Nao Medical operates a New York State OASAS-certified outpatient addiction treatment program. The first visit can focus on the immediate clinical question and medication planning when relevant, or the care plan can include counseling, recovery support, and closer follow-up when that is wanted or clinically recommended.

Focused clinical visits

Patients can request a private evaluation centered on the immediate concern, prescribing or injection planning when applicable, monitoring, and practical next steps. Medication is never automatic; eligibility and safety still require clinician review.

Counseling is available

Patients who want more support can add counseling, relapse-prevention work, care coordination, and recovery follow-up through the outpatient addiction program.

Confidential intake first

After scheduling, complete the confidential addiction intake form when it is sent. It helps the team review current substance use, prior treatment, medications, insurance, and the safest visit type.

Nao Medical accepts Medicaid and many major insurance plans, including Medicare, Healthfirst, MetroPlus, Fidelis, UnitedHealthcare and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, EmblemHealth, Aetna, Cigna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Coverage varies by visit, medication, pharmacy benefit, testing, counseling, and prior authorization. Review addiction-treatment insurance support.

Health information notice

General information only. The information here is not medical advice and does not replace diagnosis, treatment, or guidance from a licensed clinician.

Content was updated August 2, 2026 from the cited sources and Nao Medical's current service information. Medical guidance, prescribing information, medication availability, and insurance rules can change. A licensed clinician must confirm current information and determine each patient's eligibility, testing, treatment, administration setting, and follow-up. Call 911 for a medical emergency. Contact Nao Medical with a question or correction.