Telemedicine for Opioid Use Disorder: How It Works and Where To Start

Medically reviewed by Paul Ballas, D.O.

Written by Torrey Kim

Posted on October 29, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Telemedicine, or visiting with your doctor remotely, may offer several benefits for people with opioid use disorder, including better access to treatment, fewer barriers to care, and reduced stigma.
Research has shown that people with opioid use disorder who used telehealth had similar treatment retention rates compared to those seen in person, and some studies suggest telehealth users may have lower rates of overdose, emergency room visits, and hospital admissions. Services like buprenorphine prescribing, counseling, follow-up visits, and care coordination can all be delivered through telehealth, and a 2024 law change now allows providers to prescribe buprenorphine without requiring an in-person visit first.
If you are interested in exploring telehealth as an option for opioid use disorder treatment, consider asking your current provider if they offer telehealth visits, checking with your health insurance company about coverage, testing your technology ahead of time, and preparing a list of topics to discuss with your doctor at your first visit.

View all takeaways

Telemedicine, or visiting with your doctor remotely, may offer several benefits for people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Telehealth can be especially helpful if you don’t have an OUD expert in your community.

Read on to learn how telemedicine can be used to access treatment. You’ll also discover which services can be delivered remotely and how to get started.

Benefits of OUD Telehealth

Telehealth can be helpful for people with OUD. Below are just a few of the benefits:

Better access to OUD treatment — Not everyone has access to an OUD specialist in their community, so telehealth expands those options.
Fewer barriers to care — Telehealth can take place anywhere, so you can even access it if you have childcare, work, or transportation challenges.
Stronger treatment adherence — Treatment may be easier to continue if your doctor visits are more consistent and convenient.
Reduced stigma — Accessing treatment remotely may offer more privacy and invite less scrutiny.

🗳️ Do you use telemedicine to see an OUD specialist?

Yes

Some people prefer to see their OUD expert in person. But others find benefits from telehealth. Think about which is right for you, and talk to your doctor about your options.

How Telehealth Works for OUD Treatment

Several opioid use disorder services can be delivered through telehealth.

Buprenorphine Prescribing and Management

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, providers couldn’t prescribe buprenorphine for OUD via telehealth without first having a face-to-face visit.

Buprenorphine is a medication that may be used to treat OUD. It can help prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings to help people seeking recovery.

During the pandemic, the law changed temporarily. Clinicians were able to prescribe buprenorphine over telehealth even if they’d never had an in-person visit with the person.

After temporarily extending that rule, the law was permanently changed in 2024 to allow providers to:

Prescribe buprenorphine via audio-only or audio-visual telehealth visits without requiring an in-person visit first
Prescribe methadone via audio-visual telehealth visits at opioid treatment programs under certain conditions

In addition to these changes, broader prescribing flexibility has been extended through December 31, 2026. If you can’t find a local provider who prescribes buprenorphine for OUD, you may be able to start treatment over telehealth.

Counseling and Behavioral Therapy

Many providers offer counseling for OUD through telehealth. This allows you to have one-on-one or group behavioral therapy using telehealth.

One study looked at no-show rates for people who got individual or group counseling over telehealth compared to those who only had in-person counseling. Researchers found that the telehealth participants had much lower no-show rates.

Follow-Up Visits

Being treated for OUD takes more than one visit. Scheduling your follow-up visits through telehealth may be more convenient for some people.

Follow-up visits for people on buprenorphine are scheduled based on whether your opioid withdrawals and cravings have ended or not. During these visits, the provider asks questions about treatment. They’ll document any side effects or symptoms you’ve had and will consider whether your dose is accurate.

If you aren’t on buprenorphine or another medication, you’ll still need to go to follow-up visits to treat OUD. At these appointments, your doctor will ask about your cravings, counseling status, and other topics.

Care Coordination

When clinicians work together to help improve your health, it’s called care coordination. This effort between providers can improve OUD treatment quality and outcomes. Telehealth is one convenient way that care coordination can occur.

What the Research Shows About Telehealth and OUD

Researchers have studied the effect of telehealth use on OUD outcomes. Several studies have found positive results among those who used telehealth.

One study looked at retention rates for people with OUD who were treated in person and those treated over telehealth. Retention means the person returns for more visits throughout the treatment period. The researchers found similar retention rates between telehealth and in-person visits.

Telehealth may also reduce overdoses from OUD. One study found that people treated for OUD through telehealth were 33 percent less likely to die of an overdose than those who weren’t treated.

Another study reviewed the outcomes of 57,000 veterans with OUD. They found that those treated via telehealth had lower rates of emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and death compared to those who were only seen for in-person visits.

Most providers and people with OUD see telehealth as a positive option. It is becoming an important standard of care for people with OUD.

Barriers and When In-Person Care May Be Needed

Telehealth is helpful for many people with OUD. But it’s not always the best choice for everyone.

Not everyone can easily access telehealth. Some people don’t have the technology required. Others may not understand how to use the technology.

Some people may not trust telehealth, worrying that their privacy will be breached or their identity may be stolen. Plus, some people may simply prefer in-person care instead of telehealth.

How To Get Started With Telehealth OUD Treatment

Before you get started with telehealth, you’ll need to know a few things.

Find a Provider

There are several ways you can find a telemedicine opioid treatment provider. Consider these options:

Ask your current provider whether they do telehealth visits.
Ask your health insurance company for names of covered telehealth providers.
Ask other people with OUD whether they have a telehealth clinician they recommend.

Check Your Technology

Most telehealth visits require you to have two-way sound and video capabilities. The majority of smartphones, tablets, and computers have these built-in functions. You’ll also need a reliable internet connection.

If you don’t have a video-capable device or an internet connection, you may still have options. Ask your doctor if a telephone appointment will work. This may not be an option for all types of OUD treatment, but you can ask your provider which OUD visits are possible on the phone.

Confirm Health Insurance Coverage

Most health plans cover telehealth visits, but you should always check with your insurer before your visit. Ensure that they cover the telehealth services you plan to get.

Prepare for Your First Visit

Before your first telehealth visit, you may need to take a few steps to prepare:

Test your technology to confirm that your internet, video, and audio are working.
Find a quiet, private place to hold the appointment.
Make sure the lighting in the room you’ve chosen is bright and that you’re visible.
Ask the doctor and your insurer about copays or deductible costs.
Sign on early to ensure you’re on camera when your provider arrives.
Make a list of topics you plan to discuss with your doctor.

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