Professional Referrals to Shine Wellness & Recovery
Clinically reviewed by Joe Papa, LICSW · Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Fast intake. Direct clinical communication. Same-day assessments available. Located in Saugus, MA, serving the greater North Shore and greater Boston.
Serving providers across the North Shore, ED physicians, PCPs, social workers, detox programs, sober living, and behavioral health clinicians.
Why Providers Refer to Shine
Clinical depth. Fast access. Reliable communication.
Shine Wellness & Recovery is a licensed outpatient addiction treatment program in Saugus, Massachusetts, offering PHP, IOP, and standard outpatient levels of care. We accept most major insurance plans, offer same-day clinical assessments, and provide direct provider-to-provider communication for all referred patients with appropriate consent in place.
We know that when you are making a referral, two things matter most: getting your patient into care quickly, and knowing they will be well cared for once they are there. We take both seriously.
Fast Access
We prioritize provider referrals. Same-day clinical assessments are available, and most referred patients can be scheduled within 24 to 48 hours of contact. We do not have long waitlists.
MAT Onsite
Our psychiatric nurse practitioner can prescribe and manage buprenorphine (Suboxone), Sublocade, Vivitrol, and oral naltrexone as part of a comprehensive outpatient treatment plan. MAT continuity from a referring provider can be maintained.
Clinical Communication
With appropriate patient consent, we maintain direct communication with referring providers, including intake confirmation, progress updates, and discharge planning coordination. We treat your patients as shared patients.
Warm Handoffs
For patients being discharged from inpatient, residential, or detox settings, we support warm handoff transitions and can have a placement scheduled before discharge occurs.
Who We Accept
A clear picture of our clinical scope so you can refer with confidence.
We accept referrals for adults 18 and older presenting with substance use disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, or both. The following is a clear overview of our clinical scope.
We Treat
- Alcohol use disorder
- Opioid use disorder (heroin, fentanyl, prescription opioids)
- Cocaine and stimulant use disorder
- Marijuana use disorder
- Prescription drug misuse
- Co-occurring mental health conditions, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and others
- Polysubstance use disorder
Levels of Care Available
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), 6 hours/day, 5 days/week
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), 3 hours/day, 3-5 days/week, morning and evening options
- Standard Outpatient, clinically tailored frequency, typically once weekly
- MAT management, buprenorphine, Sublocade, Vivitrol, oral naltrexone
- Psychiatric evaluation and co-occurring disorder treatment
Patients requiring medical detox prior to PHP or IOP: We coordinate detox referrals to trusted partners and can hold a PHP or IOP placement pending medical stabilization. Please call us to discuss the specific situation.
Patients currently on methadone: Methadone is not dispensed at Shine. We accept patients currently receiving methadone maintenance at a certified OTP and can provide concurrent PHP, IOP, or outpatient therapy and case management alongside their methadone treatment.
How to Make a Referral
Simple. Fast. No paperwork required to start.
The fastest way to refer a patient to Shine is a direct phone call. Our admissions clinical coordinator is available 24/7 to accept provider referrals, answer clinical questions, and coordinate same-day scheduling.
- 1Immediate
Call Our Clinical Team
Call (617) 341-9944 and ask for our admissions clinical coordinator. You can call any time, 24/7. Share your patient's name, presenting situation, substance use history if available, and insurance information if known. We will take it from there.
- 2Same Day or Next Day
We Conduct a Clinical Assessment
Our clinical team conducts a brief phone or in-person assessment with your patient to determine the appropriate level of care. We will contact you with the outcome and recommended placement.
- 3Within 24-48 Hours
Intake Is Scheduled
Once the level of care is confirmed and insurance is verified, we schedule your patient's first appointment, often within 24 to 48 hours of your referral call. For urgent situations, same-day placement may be available.
- 4Ongoing
You Are Kept Informed
With your patient's consent, we provide intake confirmation, periodic progress updates, and discharge planning coordination. You will not refer and wonder, we maintain the communication loop.
Submit a Referral Online
Prefer to submit in writing? Send us the essentials and we will call you back.
Our admissions clinical coordinator will follow up promptly to confirm receipt, coordinate scheduling, and answer any clinical questions. For urgent referrals, please call (617) 341-9944.
Clinical Details for Referring Providers
Specific information on MAT, co-occurring disorders, and care coordination.
We understand that clinical details matter when you are making a referral. The following covers the most common clinical questions we receive from referring providers.
MAT Continuity
If your patient is currently prescribed buprenorphine or naltrexone by another provider, our psychiatric nurse practitioner can assume medication management as part of their enrollment in our program, with appropriate releases in place. We do not require patients to restart MAT from scratch.
Buprenorphine Initiation
Our psychiatric NP can initiate buprenorphine for patients presenting in mild to moderate opioid withdrawal. Patients do not need to have started buprenorphine elsewhere prior to referral. For patients requiring low-dose induction (Bernese method), please note this in your referral call.
Co-Occurring Disorders
We provide integrated treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and others. Our psychiatric NP conducts evaluations and provides ongoing psychiatric support alongside addiction treatment. We do not require patients to have their mental health conditions stabilized prior to admission.
Involuntary and Court-Mandated Patients
We accept referrals for voluntary patients only. For patients under Section 35 or other involuntary commitment orders, we can discuss the specific situation and may be able to coordinate a step-down placement following the involuntary treatment period.
For clinical questions not addressed here, please call our admissions clinical coordinator directly at (617) 341-9944. Provider-to-provider consultation is available during business hours.
Insurance and Verification
We'll reach out to your insurance company, explain exactly what's covered, and walk you through any costs before you ever start treatment. No guessing, no hidden bills , just clear answers up front.
We accept most major insurance plans.
We verify benefits before intake, at no cost and with no delay to the referral process.
Shine accepts most major insurance plans. We verify patient benefits as part of the intake process and communicate coverage clearly to both the patient and, with consent, the referring provider before treatment begins. Insurance should never be a barrier to making a referral, call us and we will handle the verification.
Who Refers to Shine
We work with providers across the care continuum.
We receive referrals from a wide range of provider types across the North Shore and greater Boston. If you treat patients with substance use disorders in any capacity, we want to be a resource for you.
Emergency Departments
ED providers across the North Shore refer patients to Shine for PHP and IOP placement following acute presentations. We accept warm handoffs and can coordinate same-day or next-day intake following ED discharge.
Primary Care Physicians
PCPs who identify substance use issues during routine care, or who are managing patients on buprenorphine, refer to Shine for structured outpatient treatment and MAT management.
Hospital Social Workers
Hospital social workers coordinating discharge planning for patients with substance use disorder refer to Shine as an outpatient step-down following medical admission.
Detox Programs
Detox programs across the region refer patients to Shine for PHP or IOP placement as the next clinical step following medical stabilization. We accept warm handoffs and can hold placements pending discharge.
Sober Living and Recovery Homes
Sober living operators refer residents to Shine for structured outpatient programming that supports their recovery while living in a sober environment.
Behavioral Health Clinicians
Therapists, social workers, and counselors in private practice refer clients to Shine when a higher level of clinical intensity is needed than weekly outpatient therapy alone can provide.
Frequently Asked Questions, Provider Referrals
Joe Papa is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and member of the Shine Wellness & Recovery clinical team. All clinical content on this site is reviewed by Joe to ensure accuracy and alignment with current evidence-based practice standards in addiction treatment and behavioral health.
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