[Gettysburg, PA] — February 22, 2026 — Despite expanded access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), national data continues to show significant gaps in initiation and retention. RECADEMY, the Academy for Improving Substance Use Disorder Treatment, launched in early 2026 to fill a critical need in the health and human service system by empowering decision-makers and care leaders across the health care ecosystem to bring proven models of substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment to scale.

“Improving outcomes in opioid use disorder treatment requires more than individual clinical decisions, it requires intentional system design,” said Monica Oss, Chief Executive Officer of OPEN MINDS. “The Cascade of Care framework allows organizational leaders to identify structural gaps, align workflows across care settings, and build accountability for engagement and retention throughout the continuum.”

The OUD Cascade of Care provides a structured approach for identifying where individuals disengage from care and for implementing system-level interventions that improve continuity and outcomes. 

In response to the ongoing challenges in effective OUD care, RECADEMY has announced the first webinar in its 2026 education series focused on advancing evidence-based opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment across health systems, behavioral health organizations, and payer environments. 

The webinar, “Designing the OUD Cascade of Care: What Works in Real-World Provider Settings,” will be held on February 24, 2026, from 1:00–2:00 PM ET. The session will feature Heidi Ginter, MD, Medical Director at Acadia Healthcare, and will be moderated by Stuart Buttlaire, PhD, former Regional Director of Behavioral Health and Addiction Medicine at Kaiser Permanente. 

The webinar will examine how provider organizations can strengthen each stage of the OUD Cascade of Care; from screening and diagnosis through medication initiation, stabilization, retention, and recovery. Presenters will explore reducing drop-offs at high-risk transition points such as emergency departments, hospital discharge, residential treatment, and justice reentry. 

Drawing on her clinical and operational experience, Dr. Ginter will discuss how high-performing provider organizations are redesigning workflows, staffing models, and care transitions to improve engagement and retention. The session will also address the role of long-acting injectable medications (LAIs) in supporting stabilization for individuals at higher risk of treatment disruption. 

Key learning objectives of the webinar include: 

• Identifying common failure points across the OUD Cascade of Care
• Applying evidence-based strategies to improve engagement, initiation, and retention
• Understanding how staffing models, peer support, and workflow redesigns can improve continuity
• Examining how long-acting injectable medications can strengthen early and mid-stage retention
• Mapping organizational drop-off points to identify high-impact improvement opportunities 

“The challenge in opioid use disorder treatment is rarely a lack of evidence. It’s the breakdown between settings and stages of care,” says Dr. Heidi Ginter. “When organizations map their cascade carefully, they can see exactly where patients are lost and implement practical workflow changes that strengthen engagement and retention. Even incremental improvements in initiation and continuity can significantly reduce overdose risk.”

This webinar is the first in a 12-part RECADEMY series planned for 2026, addressing system design, clinical models, workforce strategies, payer alignment, and policy considerations related to substance use disorder treatment. 

Registration is now open. Registration is free for members of RECADEMY. For more information on RECADEMY, any of OPEN MINDS’ educational programs, upcoming sponsorship opportunities, or media inquiries, contact the Executive Education Events team at events@openminds.com or 717-334-1329.

About RECADEMY 

RECADEMY is a research-based, online learning collaborative focused on improving substance use disorder treatment across clinical settings and payer environments. Through webinars, on-demand education, and curated resources, RECADEMY supports healthcare leaders in implementing evidence-based models of care and strengthening systems that improve treatment access, continuity, and outcomes. 

About OPEN MINDS 

OPEN MINDS is a national market intelligence, management consulting, and marketing services firm specializing exclusively in the high-needs consumer market – mental health, addiction treatment, cognitive disabilities, chronic health conditions, elder services, health-related social needs, and adjacent markets within the health and human service field. The OPEN MINDS mission is to provide payers, service provider organizations, pharmaceutical, technology, and scientific firms that serve these consumers with the market and management knowledge needed to improve their organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Learn more at openminds.com.