Medication management is the ongoing process of evaluating, prescribing, and adjusting psychiatric medications by a licensed prescriber. We match you with psychiatric prescribers for medications that treat depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and opioid use disorder. Insurance is verified before your first appointment.
What Medication Management Is And Who It Is For
Medication management is structured psychiatric care from a licensed prescriber, including initial evaluation, prescription, ongoing monitoring, and dose adjustment based on how you respond. Sessions are clinical visits with a psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, not therapy. Most people in medication management also work with a therapist, and the prescriber coordinates with the therapist on shared treatment goals.
Medication management fits when you want a prescriber to handle the medication side of your treatment plan, when your primary care doctor has recommended a psychiatric specialist, or when an existing medication regimen needs review. Common reasons to start include:
- Therapist has recommended adding medication to your treatment
- Primary care doctor wants a psychiatric specialist to take over prescribing
- Current medications are not working or causing side effects
- Need to continue medications started in inpatient or PHP care
- Discharge from substance-use treatment requires ongoing MAT prescribing
- Want a second opinion on your current regimen
- New diagnosis requires medication as part of the treatment plan
- Looking to taper off a medication safely with clinical supervision
Conditions And Medication Categories Prescribers Work With
Prescribers in our network treat the full range of conditions where medication is part of evidence-based care. The most common categories include:
Antidepressants for depression and anxiety
SSRIs and SNRIs are the most-prescribed first-line medications for depression and generalized anxiety. Common medications include sertraline, escitalopram, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, and duloxetine. The matched prescriber selects based on your history, side-effect profile, and any prior medication trials.
Anti-anxiety and sleep medications
Short-term and as-needed medications include benzodiazepines (when appropriate and with appropriate prescribing caution), buspirone, hydroxyzine, and sleep aids. Long-term anxiety treatment usually combines a daily medication with skills-based therapy rather than relying on benzodiazepines alone.
Mood stabilizers and antipsychotics
For bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or treatment-resistant depression, mood stabilizers (lithium, lamotrigine, valproate) and second-generation antipsychotics (quetiapine, aripiprazole, olanzapine) are common. These require closer monitoring; the matched prescriber sets the visit cadence based on the medication and your stability.
ADHD medications
Stimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamine-based) and non-stimulants (atomoxetine, guanfacine) are the standard ADHD treatments. Stimulant prescribing is controlled and requires more frequent in-person visits in most states; the matched prescriber works through diagnostic confirmation before prescribing.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder
MAT combines FDA-approved medication with counseling. The three approved medications are Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone), Vivitrol (extended-release naltrexone), and methadone, plus oral naltrexone. Suboxone is the most-prescribed in outpatient settings. The matched prescriber handles induction, ongoing dosing, and the counseling-coordination required by federal MAT rules.
How Matching Works
We are a matching service. You tell us what you want addressed (specific condition, current medications, MAT need), your preferences (in-person or telehealth, prescriber type, schedule, insurance), and we match you with a licensed prescriber who has openings.
After you submit the form or call us, a member of our intake team contacts you within 24 hours to discuss what you need from a prescriber and which formats fit. We then reach out to prescribers in our network whose specialties match your situation, and we share their availability, prescriber type, and rates with you.
You decide which prescriber to start with. The prescriber’s practice handles intake, insurance verification, and ongoing care directly with you.
Medication Management Vs Therapy-Only Care
Many people benefit from medication management plus therapy at the same time. The matched prescriber and therapist can coordinate on treatment goals when you authorize it. Comparison below covers the most common questions.
Dimension | Medication management | Therapy-only care |
Who you see | Psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or physician assistant | Licensed therapist (LCSW, LMHC, psychologist) |
Visit structure | Initial 60-90 min evaluation, 15-30 min medication-check visits after | Initial intake (60 min), weekly or biweekly 45-60 min sessions |
What you work on | Medication selection, dosing, side effects, monitoring response | Patterns, coping skills, relationships, processing experiences |
Best for | Conditions where medication is evidence-based first-line care; existing regimen needs review; MAT for opioid use disorder | Anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions where talk therapy alone often suffices |
Visit frequency | Monthly to quarterly once stable; weekly during dose changes | Weekly or biweekly during active treatment |
For most conditions where medication is part of the plan, the right setup is both: medication management with a prescriber and ongoing therapy with a therapist. We can match you for either or both.
Other Services We Match For
Medication management works best alongside therapy. We match for the full continuum:
For questions about how psychiatric medications work, what to expect when starting medication, or insurance coverage for prescriptions, the following resources cover common questions in depth:
- Best health insurance for mental health medication coverage
- Best medications for anxiety and depression
- When to take anxiety medication
Medication management fits when you want a prescriber to handle the medication side of your treatment plan, when your primary care doctor has recommended a psychiatric specialist, or when an existing medication regimen needs review. Common reasons to start include:
- Therapist has recommended adding medication to your treatment
- Primary care doctor wants a psychiatric specialist to take over prescribing
- Current medications are not working or causing side effects
- Need to continue medications started in inpatient or PHP care
- Discharge from substance-use treatment requires ongoing MAT prescribing
- Want a second opinion on your current regimen
- New diagnosis requires medication as part of the treatment plan
- Looking to taper off a medication safely with clinical supervision
Insurance And Fees
We work with most major insurance plans. The matched prescriber’s practice verifies your benefits before your first appointment. Many prescribers in our network offer sliding scale fees based on income, with eligibility set by each prescriber’s practice.
Medication management is covered as a behavioral-health benefit by most commercial carriers, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare. We do not quote rates because they vary by prescriber and plan; after you are matched, the practice handles billing and shares specific cost details. Insurance verification typically takes about 15 minutes for plans without prior authorization, and 1 to 3 business days for plans that require it.
Telehealth And Getting Started
Many prescribers in our network offer telehealth medication management by secure video, so where you live rarely limits which prescriber you can see. Telehealth works well for most psychiatric medications, including ongoing management and routine follow-up visits. Controlled medications, such as stimulants for ADHD, benzodiazepines, and some MAT medications, may require an initial in-person visit depending on the prescriber’s policy and current regulations. When you reach out, we match you on the condition you want addressed, your schedule, your insurance, and your preference for in-person or remote care, then share prescribers with current openings for you to choose from.
Medical Reviewer
This page was reviewed by Dr. Courtney Scott, MD, a physician with credentials in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. Dr. Scott completed medical school at the Keck School of Medicine at USC and has more than a decade of experience in behavioral health. Clinical care for the people we match is provided by the licensed therapists in our network, not by Dr. Scott directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is psychiatric medication management?
Medication management is structured prescribing care from a licensed psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. It includes initial evaluation, medication selection, dose adjustment based on your response, and ongoing monitoring for side effects and effectiveness.
Who prescribes the medications?
Prescribers in our network are licensed psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners (PMHNPs), or physician assistants (PAs) authorized to prescribe psychiatric medications in New York. The matched prescriber handles your prescribing and any coordination with your primary care doctor.
How often will I have appointments?
Initial evaluation usually runs 60 to 90 minutes. Follow-up medication-check visits are typically 15 to 30 minutes. Visit frequency is weekly to monthly during medication changes and quarterly once your regimen is stable, though some medications (controlled substances, stimulants) require more frequent visits.
Can I keep my current therapist while doing medication management?
Yes. Most people in medication management also work with a therapist, and the prescriber coordinates with the therapist on shared treatment goals when you authorize it. We can also match you with a therapist if you do not have one.
Does insurance cover medication management?
Yes, for most plans. Commercial carriers (Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare) cover psychiatric medication management as a behavioral-health benefit. Coverage details vary by plan; the matched prescriber’s practice verifies your benefits before your first appointment.
Do you prescribe Suboxone or other MAT medications?
Prescribers in our network include MAT-authorized clinicians who prescribe Suboxone, Vivitrol, and oral naltrexone for opioid use disorder. The matched MAT prescriber handles induction, ongoing dosing, and the counseling coordination required by federal MAT regulations.
What if I want to switch prescribers?
You can request a different prescriber from our matching team at any time. We help with the transition and the new prescriber handles intake and continuity of your current medication regimen.
How quickly can I start medication management?
Most people are matched with a prescriber within a few days of reaching out. The first appointment is usually scheduled within 1 to 2 weeks depending on prescriber availability. Insurance verification can add 1 to 3 business days for plans that require prior authorization.