Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ list

• What does treatment at Blue Heart Services look like?

  Blue Heart Services provides outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder care along ASAM Levels 1.0 through 2.5 — outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), ambulatory withdrawal management, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), psychiatric services, lab and pharmacogenomic testing, case management, and peer recovery support. Care plans are built per person and the level of care can shift up or down as your needs change.

• What are ASAM levels of care, and which do you offer?

  The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines a continuum of care intensities, from Level 1.0 (standard outpatient, typically a few hours per week) through Level 2.1 (intensive outpatient, around 9–19 hours per week), Level 2.5 (partial hospitalization, around 20+ hours per week), Level 3 (residential), and Level 4 (hospital-based). Blue Heart Services provides Levels 1.0, 2.1, and 2.5 along with ambulatory withdrawal management — the full outpatient continuum.

• How private is my visit?

  Very. Substance use disorder treatment records are protected by HIPAA and by an additional federal regulation called 42 CFR Part 2, which is stricter than HIPAA alone. In plain English: we generally cannot tell anyone — including your family, your employer, or law enforcement — that you receive services from us, without your specific written consent. The most confidential way to reach us is by phone at 513.790.3033. Text and email are not private channels, so please don't include health information when you write to us.

• Can my family be involved in my care?

  Family involvement can be a meaningful part of recovery, and we welcome it when you want it. Because of 42 CFR Part 2, we will only share information about you with family members if you give us specific written consent. You decide who is included and what they hear.

• What if I'm in crisis right now?

  If you are in immediate danger or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) — it is free, confidential, and available 24/7. For any life-threatening emergency, call 911. To reach Blue Heart Services during business hours, call 513.790.3033. SAMHSA also runs a free 24/7 national helpline for treatment referrals at 1-800-662-4357.

• What should I expect at my first appointment?

  Your first visit is a clinical assessment with a licensed clinician. We will talk about your history, what is happening now, and what you want from treatment. Together we decide the right level of care to start with. You don't need to bring anything specific — just yourself and any questions you have.

• How long does treatment last?

  It varies. Some people are with us for a few weeks; others stay engaged for many months as they step down through different levels of care. The plan adjusts based on how you are doing, not a fixed timeline.

• Do you offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT)?

  Yes. MAT for opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder is integrated with our counseling and psychiatric care — not a separate referral. A prescriber on our team handles initiation and ongoing management as part of the same plan.

• How do I get started?

  Call 513.790.3033. A real person from our team answers — not a hotline operator. We ask a few brief questions, and if we are a good fit we schedule a clinical assessment. There is no commitment in making the call.