Academy Community

What does integrated behavioral primary health care look like in practice? The University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine has been practicing an integrated model of care for approximately three decades. To get an inside look at behavioral health integration in practice, watch this brief video that was featured at the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) 2019 conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcb5wyUFvRE

What questions do you have about integrating behavioral health services and primary care?

From 2011 through 2016, the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths involving heroin and methamphetamine tripled. The rate of drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogues doubled. The National Vital Statistics Report emphasizes the importance of specifically reporting at least one specific drug in in the death report text, to enhance the accuracy of tracking drug overdose deaths. Read more here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_09-508.pdf

Federal Advisory Committee on Substance Use Disorders seeks public members (submit by June 14, 2019):
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is establishing an Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders Coordinating Committee pursuant to Section 7022 of the SUPPORT Act. The Committee will consist of representatives of specific federal agencies and non-federal individuals and entities who represent diverse disciplines and views. The Committee will identify areas for improved coordination related to substance abuse, including research, services, supports and prevention activities across all relevant Federal agencies. In identifying areas for coordination, the committee will provide recommendations for improving Federal programs for the prevention and treatment of, and recovery from, substance use disorders, including by expanding access to prevention, treatment and recovery services. They will also analyze substance use disorder prevention and treatment strategies in different regions of and populations in the United States and evaluate the extent to which Federal substance use disorder and treatment strategies are aligned with State and local substance disorder and treatment strategies.

HHS is requesting nominations of individuals who are interested in being considered for appointment to the Committee. Resumes or curricula vitae from qualified individuals who wish to be considered for appointment as a member of the Committee are currently being accepted until June 14, 2019. For more information: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/15/2019-09969/establis...

Do you know which medications are FDA-approved and evidence-based for treating opioid use disorder (OUD)? Methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release naltrexone are safe and highly effective medications that are already FDA approved to treat OUD. But did you know that the majority of people with OUD in the United States don’t receive any treatment at all? A recently-released report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) provides up-to-date information on the effectiveness of medications for OUD and the barriers that prevent people from accessing these life-saving medications. Download a free copy of the report here: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25310/medications-for-opioid-use-disorder-sa...

In your opinion, what are some social and systemic barriers that might prevent people with OUD from accessing medication-assisted treatment (MAT)?

Value-based payment to encourage Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Primary Care. Expanding the capacity and ability of primary care providers (PCPs) to assess and treat SUDs is critical to filling the current gap in service delivery and addressing barriers to seeking help, such as stigma. Value-based payment can help to support this goal. Read the full article here: http://www.tacinc.org/media/59564/vbp-for-sud_final_june-2018.pdf

The peer workforce is an increasingly effective way to expand access and remove barriers to receiving mental health treatment. Vera French Mental Health Center in Iowa is a great example of the effective utilization of peer support counseling to provide those seeking mental health treatment with peer support. Read more about the drop in center and how it works here: https://wqad.com/2019/03/28/peer-to-peer-counseling-program-eases-access...

Find additional resources from AHRQ here: https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/search/site/Peer%20recovery

There is a need to integrate behavioral health into Emergency Department (ED) settings, as well as primary care. Trends in psychiatric visits to emergency department by youth and young adults in the U.S. show rising prevalence. Psychiatric expertise and effective mental health treatment options need to be available in the ED. Read the full research article here: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/143/4/e2018219...

Resources specific to suicide screening for youth are featured at: https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/news-and-events/resources/screening-...

Check out HRSA’s updated behavioral health workforce projections for 2016 to 2030. The report provides estimates for eight behavioral health occupations, including psychologists, social workers, and addiction counselors. Read the summary report, state-level projections, and fact-sheet here: https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/news-and-events/news/updated-behavio...

IT MATTRs: Bringing new understanding of the Opioid Crisis to Coloradans. Implementing Technology and Medication Assisted Treatment Team Training in Rural Colorado, or IT MATTRs is a program designed to address the #OUD in eastern Colorado and the San Luis Valley. 42 practices have been recruited for training with this number increasing each week according to the High Plains Research Network. Have You Met MAT? Read the full article here: https://www.kunc.org/post/eastern-plains-program-brings-new-understandin...

New opioid treatment resources for emergency department clinicians to help them face unique challenges with patients suffering for opioid overdoses. ED settings are an ideal place for clinicians to begin treatment conversations with patients while treating overdoses and other opioid-related challenges. ED clinicians can access a comprehensive set of tools to communicate with and treat people with #OUD. Find more information here: https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2018/10/new-opioid-t...

SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act: federal funding and policies to address the opioid crisis in the U.S. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is only one provision outlined in the law. Check out additional provisions to address the opioid crisis: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6

The Pain Management Task Force calls for individualized, patient-centered pain management to improve quality of life for individuals who experience acute and chronic pain. The draft report issued by the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-agency Task Force is accepting public comments on their proposed recommendations. Read the full draft report here: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/12/28/pain-management-task-force-cal... , and submit comments to the Task Force. Comment to the Academy Community if you wish.

“Whole-person” health and integrated behavioral health and primary care have a robust evidence base. Research suggests a variety of models of integrated care, such as Collaborative Care and Colocation. What model of integrated care are you most familiar with? Have you worked within one model of integrated behavioral health, and which one? https://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/news-and-events/news/exploring-model...

NIH will fund development of newer and longer-lasting treatments for #OUD. Longer-acting forms of drugs to treat individuals with #OUD that can be effective in keeping people off heroin, fentanyl, and other narcotics by giving them more time to recover. What does “longer-lasting” mean? Comment below and check out the interview with NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/10/03/nih-director-franc...

The Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM) model aligns and coordinates care of pregnant and postpartum women Medicaid beneficiaries with #OUD. Integration of services for health, wellbeing, and recovery helps to get mothers with OUD and their infants the care they need. Check out the primary goals of the MOM model and types of funding periods here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-model-addresses-opioid-m...

The HHS Office for Civil Rights launched a new campaign to educate the public and address civil rights protections for individuals with #OUDs. Campaign goals include to improve access to evidence-based treatments for OUD for all people, to educate the public about civil rights protections for those with OUD, and more. Watch the full campaign video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eToyf3_Fog&feature=youtu.be

Can the nation do better than fentanyl test strips in beating the opioid epidemic? SAMHSA’s Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore F. McCance-Katz, MD, PhD, argues that individuals addicted to opioids may not be able to responsibly and rationally choose to not use a substance despite any danger found by using fentanyl test strips.
“Is our goal simply to stop people from dying so they can continue a life of ‘safe’ heroin use?”
Check out the full article here: https://blog.samhsa.gov/2018/10/03/for-beating-the-opioid-crisis-america...

Poor or low-income elderly adults were more likely than middle- or high-income older adults to obtain 4 or more opioid prescriptions between 2015-2016. Additionally, in this time period annual rates of opioid use increased as health status declined. Read AHRQs MEPS brief that examines the relationship between socioeconomic status and opioid use among adults 65 and older. https://meps.ahrq.gov/data_files/publications/st515/stat515.shtml?utm_so...

We had a great discussion on joint dissemination efforts this afternoon - I'm looking forward to working with you all to get the "Clearinghouse of Collective Thinking" moving along!

We are excited to work with AHRQ grantees on lessons learned and dissemination efforts.

New Mexico, ECHO-F study grantee.