In one calendar year, more than 109,000 people in the U.S. died from drug-involved overdoses, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids. According to the World Health Organization, nearly “80% of these deaths are related to opioids, with about 25% of those deaths caused by opioid overdose.” Overdoses and substance use disorder (SUD) can impact anyone at any time of life, underscoring the need for continuous vigilance and action across our healthcare system.
As overdose rates remain high, we recognize the important efforts of healthcare organizations nationwide in turning the tide. International Overdose Awareness Day (Aug. 31) and National Opioid Awareness Day (Sept. 21) are important moments to reflect and explore additional avenues for addressing this ongoing SUD crisis.
Integrated Care Opportunities to Turn the Tide on High Rates of SUD
While many healthcare organizations already support this important reduction of SUD’s prevalence and severity, individuals may still experience complex care pathways when experiencing behavioral health concerns. We’ll examine two key models that enhance integrated care and explore how the right tools can lead to improved health outcomes.
#1: The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Model
By providing integrated care and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, CCBHCs offer pathways to coordinate care to support long-term recovery and, ultimately, reduce opioid dependency, offering a whole-person care approach to substance use management.
CCBHCs represent one example of how stronger behavioral health financial incentives can be a step in the right direction toward value-based care. Given that CCBHCs are incentivized to connect individuals to behavioral health clinics, they are uniquely positioned to improve individuals’ outcomes (especially when it comes to SUD) while reducing costs.
As the shift toward CCBHCs continues (with ten new states joining the Medicaid CCBHC demonstration in 2024), hundreds of provider organizations and community health clinics will need solutions and state funding to support the shift to greater care coordination and care integration. There is a wide range of tools available, but states making the move to CCBHCs can partner with technology organizations that can provide:
- Existing tools in the market that can be easily integrated, rather than needing to build whole care integration programs from scratch and “reinvent the wheel”
- Data feeds from both physical and behavioral healthcare providers that may not exist in their EHR systems today
- Actionable health context and tracking of individuals through the different facets of our healthcare continuum – from primary care doctors to behavioral health clinics.
- Solutions already compliant with CCBHC initiatives out of the box
- Ability to collaborate with a person’s care network.
According to the National Council’s 2022 CCBHC impact report, CCBHCs are already engaging in numerous activities to coordinate and integrate care, from electronic information sharing with care coordination partners (94% currently do this or plan to) to co-locating physical health services on-site (88% currently do this or plan to).
#2: The Sequential Intercept Model (SIM)
The second critical model exists in the justice-involved space, an important area for innovation given the high risk of overdoses, death and high recidivism. According to The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, SUD has a correlation with criminality, and individuals “with criminal justice involvement currently account for 47% of all treatment admissions.”
The Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) offers an opportunity to improve visibility into gaps in care. The SIM demonstrates common care journeys for individuals with SUD and serious mental illness as they encounter and move through the criminal justice system.
As organizations seek to engage with and utilize the SIM to identify strategies for justice system diversion and treatment, providers and government agencies can partner with organizations that provide:
- Visibility into both individual health history and incarceration data
- Integrated tools via a ‘toolbelt’ approach that allows for care coordinators and providers to engage in relationships with justice-involved individuals
- Alerting platform to connect individuals to care and improve outcomes
- Post-incarceration pathway to wellness planning
Saving Lives
According to the CDC, 65% of drug overdose deaths had at least one potential opportunity for intervention in 2022, meaning an estimated 70,850 individuals could have been saved. Even one life saved is critical.
The time for action is now. Throughout opioid and overdose awareness days in August and September, we encourage healthcare organizations to continue forging collaborative partnerships across the healthcare continuum and investing in real-time technology solutions and services for more integrated care and better outcomes.
To learn more, contact us
