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1. Baltimore Buprenorphine
Initiative
Adam Brickner
bSAS President/CEO
January 3, 2008
3. System Structure: Three Agency Collaborative Effort Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Inc.
Substance abuse treatment oversight
Baltimore HealthCare Access, Inc.
Health insurance assistance
Case management services
Baltimore City Health Department
Training and recruitment of physicians
Initiative oversight
4. System Structure :Three Pronged Approach Step 1:
Buprenorphine induction at treatment program
IOP/OP services provided
Step 2:
Assistance with obtaining health insurance
Transition to primary care/medical system
Step 3:
Continued buprenorphine therapy in primary care
Ongoing counseling and case management
6. Implementation Steps:Substance Abuse Treatment System Forming core group of Initiative coordinators
Choosing provider (s)
Hold regular provider roundtable meetings
Produce written policies and guidance
Oversight of buprenorphine providers
Swift response to unanticipated problems
Patient tracking
7. Implementation Steps:Preventing Medication Diversion Begin with 1 week prescriptions
Increase duration of prescription once demonstrated capacity to use buprenorphine appropriately
Prescription and medication recall
Patients bring medication back for pill count
Urine testing
Test for continued opioid use and illicit drug use
Test for buprenorphine with instant dip stick test at least weekly after take-home prescriptions are started
8. Implementation Steps:Case Management Case worker involved from treatment start
Special referral consent signed by patient
1:150
Help with obtaining necessary documentation
Help with health insurance application, application tracking, and MCO/PCP selection
Facilitate transition to primary care
Patient tracking
9. Implementation Steps:Transfer to Primary Care Patient must meet transfer criteria
Case worker facilitates transfer to certified PCP
Makes appointment with selected PCP
Sends transfer summary to PCP before appointment
Assures transportation for patient
Sets up co-pay vouchers for patient if needed
Follow up on PCP visit with patient and PCP
Patient tracking
12. Implementation Steps:Primary Care Buprenorphine and medical care provided by PCP
Continuation of OP treatment for 3 months post transfer
Subsidized urine testing
Patient tracking for 6 months post transfer
Co-pay voucher system set up with PCPs and pharmacies
Free training for all Baltimore physicians
13. 701 entered the Initiative since 10/2006
392 (56%) have remained in treatment for 90+ days
134 of 392 (34%) transferred to a PCP
128 days is average LOS in primary care
25 patients (19%) dropped out post-transfer
Baltimore Burprenorphine Initiative: Results to Date (12/31/2007)
14. Lessons Learned (1) Maintenance therapy presents philosophical shift
Provider as change-leader
Develop written protocols and procedures early
Use SAMHSA’s evidence based TIP 40 to develop protocols and procedures
Regular provider meetings ensure information exchange
Training of treatment providers and PCPs
15. Lessons Learned (2) Case management extremely important - holds system together
Ensure open communication between all parties
Know MCOs’ coding and billing procedures
Set specific goals, expectations, and benchmarks
16. Lessons Learned (3) Set up patient tracking system
Essential for case-management
Allows tracking of goals and benchmarks
Anticipate problems and seek solutions
Documentation requirements
Delay in insurance coverage
Medication purchasing and storage
Co-pay coverage
Urine testing
Clinical inconsistencies