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“There’s just some people that you meet in life that you know you’re meant to meet.” Such was the impression Ellen-Jo Boschert had of David Hans when the pair met at a job interview in the fall of 2022. Hans was chief clinical officer of American Addiction Centers, which runs eight residential treatment centers across […]
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Certain sectors of behavioral health care are still “growing up.” For example, some industry insiders have said the autism therapy industry is in its toddler phase. The SUD industry, meanwhile, is working to shed some of the associations of its youth and enter a more adult era of addiction treatment. Some providers are modernizing their […]
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Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment executives are largely optimistic that COVID-era telehealth prescribing flexibilities, set to expire in December 2024, will be made permanent. But information released from a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) insider and published in Politico Pro in the days since SUD executives spoke with Addiction Treatment Business suggest an outcome different from […]
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73% of Sampled OTPs in Massachusetts Fall Short of Federal, State Requirements
By Morgan Gonzales| September 10, 2024Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are the door to evidence-based medication for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Current regulations may not be strong enough to keep these facilities in compliance with requirements that prevent overpayment for services and ensure that patients receive the most appropriate treatment. An audit conducted by the Department of Health and […]
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The Dreaded IMD Exclusion Could Partially Fall for SUD If New Bill Is Passed
By Chris Larson| September 10, 2024A new bill in Congress would chip away at the Medicaid institution for mental diseases (IMD) exclusion for those with substance use disorder (SUD). Since its inception in 1965, the federal government has refused to cover services provided in IMDs and has not allowed such services to be covered by Medicaid. In later years, Medicaid […]
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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) appears to be leaning toward releasing a rule that would put strict limits on telehealth prescribing. However, telehealth advocates maintain that the strictness of the yet-to-be-released rule effectively makes prescribing controlled substances via telehealth impossible. If finalized, the rule that the DEA is considering would severely limit the ability of […]
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Behavioral health operators and regulators have largely advocated integrating substance use disorder (SUD) screenings and primary care to improve access to treatment. New evidence underscores the importance of this integration and the extent to which mental health and substance use overlap. More than 20% of people who die of drug overdoses also have mental health […]
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Measurement-based care has been hailed by payers and providers as essential to promoting evidence-based, individualized treatment. Substance use disorder (SUD) providers hoping to craft new reimbursement arrangements or improve patient outcomes must establish robust internal measurement systems. Collecting patient data alone does not drive change, however. Providers must also leverage their findings to adjust treatment […]
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How the Pharmaceutical, Behavioral Health Industries Overlap
By Chris Larson| August 28, 2024The behavioral health industry generally isn’t as entwined and reliant on the pharmaceutical industry as the rest of the health care industry. This creates a wide open space for innovative approaches to care. But there are powerful reasons behind why that space exists. Even so, as things stand today, the addiction treatment industry has the […]
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The federal government has extended COVID-era telehealth flexibilities twice since their creation. These flexibilities are now set to expire in December 2024, putting “life-saving” care at risk, behavioral health industry insiders caution. Some substance use disorder (SUD) providers are now making plans to pivot their clinical models if flexibilities are not cemented, partnering with local […]