Highmark launches technology-enabled opioid treatment program in West Virginia

Highmark West Virginia is giving its members obtain to a technological innovation-enabled opioid use ailment program intended to extend  cure to rural and underserved parts and deal with the shortage of accessible medication–assisted cure remedy.

The purpose of treatment-assisted cure remedy is to allow for folks to end abusing opioids with no experiencing highly effective drug cravings or intense withdrawal.

The remedy has also been proven to lower health prices. When opioid-dependent clients are on treatment-assisted treatment plans, health-associated prices lower by $twenty,000 per year, according to Bright Heart health, which is working in partnership with Highmark.

With the member’s permission, Bright Heart Wellbeing retains the member’s treatment workforce up to date on their development and shares efficiency metrics.

HOW THE System Operates

Users have obtain to Bright Heart Wellbeing expert services by means of self-referral or by way of a warm hand-off, a procedure of transitioning a individual with a substance use ailment from an intercept level, these kinds of as an crisis department, to a cure company after the individual is stable.

Following an original consumption and evaluation procedure, they are related to a multidisciplinary treatment workforce consisting of a physician, therapist, situation manager, treatment manager and wellness mentor.

Services with healthcare team and counselors are by way of a smartphone, pill, or pc. 

WHY THIS Matters

A lot more than 90% of clients are adverse for opioids within 90 times of starting cure, and a lot more than eighty five% are adverse for other stimulants and sedatives.

A lot more than 90% of clients are retained in opioid use ailment cure 1 month soon after starting expert services, according to Bright Heart Wellbeing.

THE Larger sized Development

The teleaddiction program, which Highmark identified as the first of its kind in the state and 1 of the first of its kind in the U.S., proceeds the company’s reaction to the opioid crisis.

Past month, Highmark announced new digital schooling and advocacy resources that are accessible to employer-based members, to overcome the stigma related with opioid use ailment and to promote restoration in the office.

These new means are a worth-additional assistance for Highmark team clients in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and are available in partnership with Shatterproof, a countrywide nonprofit business that is combating the addiction crisis.

All through the earlier 3 several years, Highmark and the Highmark Foundation have furnished some $three million to group corporations and courses battling the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware.

Highmark West Virginia is an unbiased licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Protect Association. Blue Cross Blue Protect organizations across the place are launching the Substance Use Source Centre, which will include things like a phone center and focused web site.

ON THE Record

Jon Ciampi, president of Bright Heart Wellbeing said, “Highmark is proactive in addressing the desires of their members, and recognizing limitations clients facial area when looking for treatment. By means of this connection, and the Highmark network, we hope to attain folks who have been unable to obtain treatment because of to site or other limitations.”

“MAT remedy is regarded as the gold normal of treatment for opioid use ailment, but there are lots of MAT ‘deserts’ across West Virginia,” states Dr. Caesar DeLeo, vice president and executive healthcare director of strategic initiatives for Highmark. “In these parts, clients have very limited obtain to proof-based OUD cure and could facial area significant wait around occasions or transportation problems. Clinicians are overextended. By means of this program, we will be capable to companion with clinicians so that our members obtain the kind of complete, obtainable OUD cure that places them on a route to long-time period restoration.”

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
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