Sonara Health Expands its Remote Methadone Dosing Solution to Ohio Markets

Despite the critical role technology can play in addressing the opioid crisis, behavioral health providers are rarely incentivized or empowered to adopt these technologies. In an effort to change that, our team at Sonara has partnered with BayMark Health Services — with funding from the nonprofit health plan CareSource.

This collaboration gives CareSource members at these clinics access to Sonara’s remote dosing technology as part of their opioid treatment program.

“CareSource is excited to partner with BayMark Health Services and Sonara Health. This partnership will increase access to methadone take-home doses, decreasing daily travel and giving members more time in their day,” said Stephanie Stitt, director, behavioral health at CareSource Ohio. “CareSource is committed to addressing gaps in care for our members and supporting the behavioral health workforce. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts on members’ lives.”

Sonara’s web-based application allows patients to record their methadone doses for their care team to review. 

Patients simply scan a QR code placed on their methadone bottles, and then record a video of themselves dosing for their care team to review. 

This technology builds trust between OTP patients and their care teams, empowering clinics with insights to make informed treatment decisions and improving program retention rates and treatment outcomes. It also makes it easier for providers to feel confident issuing take-homes sooner in the treatment process, without creating unnecessary safety or diversion risks.

​​“BayMark is excited to partner with Sonara Health to provide access to safe take-home dosing for many patients who might not qualify for extended take homes due to concerns for safety,” said BayMark CEO Dave White. “We are grateful that SAMHSA developed extended take-home flexibilities for patients for whom the clinical team deems they can manage their medications safely.”

Patients using Sonara can qualify for take-homes sooner and increase their number of take-homes throughout their treatment plan, which promotes recovery and reduces barriers to treatment. 

With this partnership, Sonara is now available to patients in eleven states, with plans to continue expanding throughout 2024. Sonara is also preparing to launch at additional Ohio clinics this spring. 

“We’re always thrilled to bring Sonara’s solution to more care teams and patients who need it,” said Sonara Founder and CEO Michael Giles, MD. “BayMark will be an excellent partner for us, and we’re grateful to CareSource for providing the funding to make this collaboration possible.”