Addiction Treatment in 2024: Navigating Privacy Challenges, Telehealth Shifts, Reimbursement Reforms

The landscape of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in 2024 was a tapestry of challenges, technological disruptions and unexpected breakthroughs. A staggering data leak exposed the personal information of 100 million patients. Economic pressures forced some SUD providers to retreat from certain state markets, and long-anticipated regulatory changes were once again delayed, leaving the industry […]

From Diversifying Services to Acquiring Patients: How SUD Executives Are Navigating Industry Growing Pains

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 […]

‘It’s a Brain Disease’: Changing Perception of Substance Use Key to Battling Opioid Epidemic

Understanding that substance use disorders (SUDs) are diseases of the brain, rather than moral failings, is critical to getting more people in treatment.  That’s according to Caron Treatment CEO John Driscoll, who noted education about the conditions helps families heal and provides a business opportunity for providers to grow. People with SUDs often do not […]

Family Support Vital in Addiction Care, Despite Reimbursement Challenges

Involving families in substance use treatment has long been considered beneficial, but the substance use disorder industry’s oncoming shift to value-based care may make them indispensable.  Family programming can decrease the chances of relapse and provide a common language for family members to communicate about addiction, but most payers do not cover these services. Still, […]

From Psychedelics to Weight-Loss Drugs: Examining New Approaches to SUD Treatment

When Peter Loeb co-founded Lionrock Recovery in 2010, the business of treating substance use disorders (SUDs) was very different. SUDs were stigmatized as taboo addictions, drug laws were stricter and models like Lion Rock charging clients for telehealth visits had not started. At the same time, there were fewer acute problems around SUDs – the […]

Future-Proofing Addiction Treatment Must Include Tech, Leadership, Care Continuum

The substance use disorder (SUD) industry has dramatically changed in recent years, adjusting to new technology, regulations and medications. The SUD platform of the future will take into account trends with payers and technology, industry insiders told Addiction Treatment Business, and continually re-educate itself on the best treatment modalities. Still, future-proofing SUD providers must keep […]

Investors, Insurers Embrace Outpatient Addiction Care, But Residential Care Is Far From Extinct

In recent years, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs have become shorter and outpatient treatment program options have become more popular. Residential inpatient treatment programs, often more expensive than outpatient options, may be going out of vogue among payers and investors. Still, patients will always need an option for residential care, industry insiders told Addiction […]