The MAT Factor
By Monica Oss, Chief Executive Officer, OPEN MINDS
Use of medication assisted treatment (MAT) for treating substance use disorders remains the exception and not the rule. Barriers to treatment include stigma, regulatory hurdles, few prescribers, expense, and limited availability (see Leveling The Playing Field and Addressing Addiction Stigma Among Clinicians: The Shatterproof ‘A Provider’s Pathway’ Curriculum).
But there has been a steady stream of research about the cost-effectiveness of MAT. A recent study—Medications For Opioid Use Disorder In County Jails—Outcomes After Release—added to that body of research.
In 2019, seven county correctional facilities in Massachusetts initiated pilot programs to provide all Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The study cohort included 6,400 persons with probable OUD, with a split in those receiving MOUD or not.
The results were impressive. MOUD in jail was associated with a lower risk of overdoses, a lower risk of death by any cause, and a lower risk of reincarceration. It was also associated with improved post-release MOUD initiation. The incidence of hospitalizations did not differ substantially.
This new research adds to the growing body of evidence calling for continued evolution of SUD treatment best practices. And our team will continue to cover the new developments and new programs for treating SUD. For more, check out these resources in the OPEN MINDS Industry Library:
Strategic Perspectives
- Opioid Abuse By The Numbers
- The Opioid Hat Trick
- The Aging Of Reentry
- The Stigma Gap
- The Addiction Conundrum
- The SUD Redesign
- The Integrated Care Recipe
- Outcomes As An Addictions Differentiator
- Digital + Addictions
- Radical Hospitality For Addiction Treatment
Executive Education
- The Future Of Value-Based Care For Consumers With Behavioral Health Disorders: The Centene Total Cost Of Care Model In Florida’s Sunshine Health Plan
- Addressing Addiction Stigma Among Clinicians: The Shatterproof ‘A Provider’s Pathway’ Curriculum
- A Culture Of Compassion: The Shatterproof National Stigma Initiative Case Study
- Implementing Medication-Assisted Treatment In A FQHC: The Valleywise Health Case Study
- Improving Outcomes For Criminal Justice Involved Substance Users: Huther Doyle’s SHAPE Model Case Study
- Overcoming Stigma & Change Resistance To MAT: The Gaudenzia Case Study
- Center Of Excellence In Addiction Treatment — The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Case Study
- Out of The Shadows: How Substance Use Disorder Has Helped Pave The Way For Partnership Opportunities
- Using The Evidence To Measure Progress In Addiction Treatment: The Vertava Case Study
- The New Medication Options For Treating Mental Illnesses & Addictive Disorders: A Briefing For Clinical Executives
Program Profiles
- La Bodega HCV Care & Treatment Program By ECMC: An OPEN MINDS Program Profile
- Center Of Excellence By Hazelden Betty Ford: An OPEN MINDS Program Profile
- Western New York Opioid Addiction Hotline By BestSelf Behavioral Health: An OPEN MINDS Program Profile
- GameChanger: Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Collaboration With West Virginia Prevention Initiative — An OPEN MINDS Program Profile
- Crisis Intervention Response Team By The City of Boulder, CO: An OPEN MINDS Program Profile
- DASH By Family Service League – A 24/7 Stabilization, Crisis Hotline & Mobile Response Program: An OPEN MINDS Program Profile
- Hazelden Betty Ford’s RecoveryGo Program – A Full Suite Of Virtual Recovery Tools: An OPEN MINDS Program Profile
- Addiction Treatment Embedded In Supportive Housing: The RHD Model
- Integrated Care & Addiction Treatment: The Spero Health Model
- Rural Technology-Assisted Addiction Treatment: The Chestnut Health System Model
Winning Proposals
- Telecare Corporation – Winning Proposal For Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Services To California’s San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency, 2025
- Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine – Winning Proposal For Substance Use Disorder Learning Community Services To Maine Department of Health & Human Services, 2025
- McAlister Institute – Winning Proposal For Sober & Friendly Environment (SAFE) Housing Services To California’s San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency, 2025
- Youth First, Inc. – Winning Proposal For Regional Evidence-Based School & Community Prevention Program Services To Indiana Family & Social Services, 2024
- Pacific Institute For Research & Evaluation – Winning Proposal For Prevention Of Substance Misuse Programs Evaluation Services To Indiana Family & Social Services Administration, 2024
- The Lutheran Foundation – Winning Proposal For Regional Evidence-Based School & Community Prevention Program Services To Indiana Family & Social Services, 2024
- Premier Care Of Ohio – Winning Proposal For Addiction Medication Services To Ohio’s MetroHealth System, 2024
- Catholic Community Services of Western Washington – Winning Proposal For Mobile Response & Crisis Stabilization Services To Oregon’s Washington County Behavioral Health Division
- Set Free Alaska, Inc. – Winning Proposal For Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services To Alaska Department of Corrections, Division of Health and Rehabilitation Services
- Feather House Sober Living – Winning Proposal For Recovery Residences As Part Of The Substance Abuse Block Grant Program To California’s Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services
Executive Resources
- Opioid Use Disorder: Treatment With Injectable & Implantable Buprenorphine
- Arizona Opioid Services Locator Training – Provider Users
- The State Of Arizona Is Advancing Access To Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder With Google
- Fewer Than One In Five Medicare Enrollees Received Medication To Treat Their Opioid Use Disorder
- Expansion Of Buprenorphine Treatment Via Telemedicine Encounter & Continuity Of Care Via Telemedicine For Veterans Affairs Patients
- Not All Medicare Enrollees Are Continuing Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder
- United Counseling Service of Bennington County: An OPEN MINDS Organizational Profile
- Tarzana Treatment Centers: An OPEN MINDS Organizational Profile
- Hope House: An OPEN MINDS Organizational Profile
- LESC: An OPEN MINDS Organizational Profile
News
- States With Medicaid 1115 SUD Waivers Increased Use Of Methadone
- Machine Learning System Able To Predict OUD Treatment Relapse
- Among Medicaid Enrollees Ages 10 To 24 With Opioid Use Disorder, 61% Had One Or More Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
- Buprenorphine With Medical Management Counseling Is Just As Effective As Buprenorphine With Intensive Behavioral Therapy For Treatment Of OUD
- 37% Of Medicaid Managed Care Plans Cover The Three FDA-Approved Medications For OUD
- Ohio Primary Care Professionals More Willing To Treat Type 2 Diabetes Than Opioid Use Disorder
- 90% Of Californians With SUD Do Not Receive Specialty Care
- During Post-COVID Medicaid Unwinding, Buprenorphine Use For OUD Treatment Declined More In States With Higher Disenrollment
- New Jersey Updates Opioid Treatment Program Rules To Align With Federal Regulations
- Oregon Pilots Emergency Care Medication Treatment For Opioid Use
Market Insights
- University Of Houston Joins $21.2 Million Statewide Effort To Fight Opioid Crisis
- Humboldt County, California, Sheriff’s Office Implements Sublocade, Long-Acting Injected Buprenorphine, Program To Address Opioid Crisis
- Hitchcock Center For Women In Cleveland, Ohio, Expands To Double The Number Of Mothers In Addiction Recovery Served Annually
- Helios Alliance Announces ‘Project Persevere’ To Combat Opioid Crisis In Mobile, Alabama
- Hazelden Betty Ford Opens Hudson, Wisconsin Clinic To Meet Growing Local Need For Integrated Mental Health & SUD Treatment
- YesCare Receives Kentucky License To Operate Opioid Treatment Program Inside Louisville Metro Department Of Corrections
- Oregon Recovery & Treatment Center Opens Redmond Location
- RISE Housing & Support Services Opens RISE Above Long-Term Drug Rehabilitation Center In Saratoga County, New York
- Eleanor Health Expands Into Florida With Virtual Addiction Treatment
- Addiction Treatment Provider Organization BrightView Health To Exit Two States
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