Through a new partnership, Bicycle Health providers can prescribe patients buprenorphine extended release injections (otherwise known as Sublocade), which can be administered by a pharmacist at an Albertsons pharmacy.
Virtual opioid use disorder provider Bicycle Health announced Thursday that it is partnering with Albertsons, a supermarket and pharmacy chain, to expand access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.
Boston-based Bicycle Health is a digital health company that works with payers and serves those struggling with addiction by offering medication for addiction treatment, therapy and peer support. Some of Bicycle Health’s payer customers include UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Cigna. Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons is the second-largest supermarket chain in the U.S., with a footprint across 34 states.
Through the new partnership, Bicycle Health providers can prescribe buprenorphine extended release injections (otherwise known as Sublocade) to opioid use disorder patients. The medication can then be administered by a pharmacist at an Albertsons pharmacy in a private room. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that is used to treat those with opioid use disorder. Bicycle Health then provides follow-up care and behavioral health support through its virtual program.