Integrating primary medical care with addiction treatment: a randomized controlled trial.
TL;DR: Individuals with SAMCs benefit from integrated medical and substance abuse treatment, and such an approach can be cost-effective.
Abstract: ContextThe prevalence of medical disorders is high among substance abuse patients,
yet medical services are seldom provided in coordination with substance abuse
treatmentObjectiveTo examine differences in treatment outcomes and costs between integrated
and independent models of medical and substance abuse care as well as the
effect of integrated care in a subgroup of patients with substance abuse–related
medical conditions (SAMCs)DesignRandomized controlled trial conducted between April 1997 and December
1998Setting and PatientsAdult men and women (n = 592) who were admitted to a large health maintenance
organization chemical dependency program in Sacramento, CalifInterventionsPatients were randomly assigned to receive treatment through an integrated
model, in which primary health care was included within the addiction treatment
program (n = 285), or an independent treatment-as-usual model, in which primary
care and substance abuse treatment were provided separately (n = 307) Both
programs were group based and lasted 8 weeks, with 10 months of aftercare
availableMain Outcome MeasuresAbstinence outcomes, treatment utilization, and costs 6 months after
randomizationResultsBoth groups showed improvement on all drug and alcohol measures Overall,
there were no differences in total abstinence rates between the integrated
care and independent care groups (68% vs 63%, P =
18) For patients without SAMCs, there were also no differences in abstinence
rates (integrated care, 66% vs independent care, 73%; P = 23) and there was a slight but nonsignificant trend of higher costs
for the integrated care group ($36796 vs $32409, P
= 19) However, patients with SAMCs (n = 341) were more likely to be abstinent
in the integrated care group than the independent care group (69% vs 55%, P = 006; odds ratio [OR], 190; 95% confidence interval
[CI], 122-297) This was true for both those with medical (OR, 338; 95%
CI, 168-680) and psychiatric (OR, 210; 95% CI, 104-425) SAMCs Patients
with SAMCs had a slight but nonsignificant trend of higher costs in the integrated
care group ($47081 vs $42795, P = 14) The incremental
cost-effectiveness ratio per additional abstinent patient with an SAMC in
the integrated care group was $1581ConclusionsIndividuals with SAMCs benefit from integrated medical and substance
abuse treatment, and such an approach can be cost-effective These findings
are relevant given the high prevalence and cost of medical conditions among
substance abuse patients, new developments in medications for addiction, and
recent legislation on parity of substance abuse with other medical benefits
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TL;DR: It is shown that it is possible to improve primary care organizations' integrated care capacity as measured by the BHIMC, though it may be difficult or unfeasible for them to provide fully integrated behavioral health services.
23 citations
TL;DR: Non-medical factors such as psychiatric problems, financial stressors and adverse childhood experiences contribute significantly to the likelihood of high medical utilization and cost and efforts to reduce high utilization must include measuring and potentially addressing these factors.
Abstract: A high proportion of U.S. health care costs are attributable to a relatively small proportion of patients. Understanding behavioral and social factors that predict initial and persistent high costs for these "high utilizers" is critical for health policy-makers. This prospective observational study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), an integrated healthcare delivery system with 4.1 million members. A stratified random sample of high-cost vs. non-high-cost adult KPNC members matched by age, gender, race/ethnicity, type of health insurance, and medical severity (N = 378) was interviewed between 3/14/2013 and 3/20/2014. Data on health care costs and clinical diagnoses between 1/1/2008 and 12/31/2012 were derived from the electronic health record (EHR). Social-economic status, depression symptoms, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), interpersonal violence, financial stressors, neighborhood environment, transportation access, and patient activation and engagement were obtained through telephone interviews. Initial and subsequent high-cost status were defined as being classified in top 20% cost levels over 1/1/2009-12/31/2011 and 1/1/2012-12/31/2012, respectively. Psychiatric diagnosis (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.52-4.29, p < 0.001), financial stressors (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.19-3.26, p = 0.009), and ACEs (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.00-1.20, p = 0.051) predicted initial high-cost status. ACEs alone predicted persistent high-cost status in the subsequent year (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.00-1.25, p = 0.050). Non-medical factors such as psychiatric problems, financial stressors and adverse childhood experiences contribute significantly to the likelihood of high medical utilization and cost. Efforts to predict and reduce high utilization must include measuring and potentially addressing these factors.
23 citations
Cites background from "Integrating primary medical care wi..."
..., 2012), and medical care into specialty psychiatry settings (Weisner et al., 2001), can improve quality of care and potentially curtail unnecessary utilization and costs (Jacob et al....
[...]
TL;DR: Findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of the LINKAGE intervention in helping patients receiving addiction treatment engage in health care and increase communication with their physicians.
Abstract: Importance Research has shown that higher activation and engagement with health care is associated with better self-management. To our knowledge, the linkage intervention (LINKAGE) is the first to engage patients receiving addiction treatment with health care using the electronic health record and a patient activation approach. Objective To examine the effects of an intervention aiming to link patients receiving addiction treatment with health care. Design, Setting, and Participants A nonrandomized clinical trial evaluating the LINKAGE intervention vs usual care by applying an alternating 3-month off-and-on design over 30 months. Participants were recruited from an outpatient addiction treatment clinic in a large health system between April 7, 2011, and October 2, 2013. Interventions Six group-based, manual-guided sessions on patient engagement in health care and the use of health information technology resources in the electronic health record, as well as facilitated communication with physicians, vs usual care. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes, measured at 6 months after enrollment, were patient activation (by interview using the Patient Activation Measure), patient engagement in health care (by interview and electronic health record), and alcohol, drug, and depression outcomes (by interview using the Addiction Severity Index for alcohol and drug outcomes and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) for depression). Results A total of 503 patients were recruited and assigned to the LINKAGE (n = 252) or usual care (n = 251) conditions, with no differences in baseline characteristics between conditions. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 42.5 (11.8) years, 31.0% (n = 156) were female, and 455 (90.5%) completed the 6-month interview. Compared with usual care participants, LINKAGE participants showed an increase in the mean number of log-in days (incidence rate ratio, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.19-1.97; P = .001). Similar results were found across types of patient portal use (communicating by email, viewing laboratory test results and information, and obtaining medical advice). LINKAGE participants were more likely to talk with their physicians about addiction problems (odds ratio, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.52-3.49; P Conclusions and Relevance Findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of the LINKAGE intervention in helping patients receiving addiction treatment engage in health care and increase communication with their physicians. The intervention did not affect short-term abstinence or depression outcomes. Understanding if the LINKAGE intervention helps prevent relapse and manage long-term recovery will be important. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01621711
22 citations
TL;DR: The relationship of readmissions to better outcome at 5 years suggests that long-term continuing care may benefit patients' long- term outcomes.
Abstract: Objective: Similar to other chronic conditions, chemical dependency is a chronic, relapsing condition. Yet predominant treatment models do not provide ongoing, long-term treatment services; readmission is the available long-term care for alcohol and drug patients. We examine readmission patterns and the role of readmission in 5-year outcome in chemical dependency patients in a private, integrated health plan. Method: We used health plan utilization databases and self-report at 5-year follow-up to measure readmission and routine primary care services in 647 chemical dependency outpatients from a private health plan. Logistic regression was used to examine whether readmission and primary medical care predicted abstinence at 5 years. Results: Controlling for demographic characteristics and dependence type, higher odds for past-year alcohol and drug abstinence at 5 years following treatment was predicted by having been readmitted in the first 4 years after index episode (odds ratio =1.59, p = .006). Receiving...
22 citations
TL;DR: Hepatitis C virus and alcohol use are patient risk factors for accelerated fibrosis progression, yet few randomized controlled trials have tested clinic‐based alcohol interventions.
22 citations
References
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01 Jan 1993TL;DR: This article presents bootstrap methods for estimation, using simple arguments, with Minitab macros for implementing these methods, as well as some examples of how these methods could be used for estimation purposes.
Abstract: This article presents bootstrap methods for estimation, using simple arguments. Minitab macros for implementing these methods are given.
37,183 citations
TL;DR: The clinical and research uses of the ASI over the past 12 years are discussed, emphasizing some special circumstances that affect its administration.
4,045 citations
TL;DR: General population data from the National Comorbidity Survey are presented on co-occurring DSM-III-R addictive and mental disorders, with the finding that fewer than half of cases with 12-monthCo-occurrence received any treatment in the year prior to interview suggests the need for greater outreach efforts.
Abstract: General population data from the National Comorbidity Survey are presented on co-occurring DSM-III-R addictive and mental disorders. Co-occurrence is highly prevalent in the general population and usually due to the association of a primary mental disorder with a secondary addictive disorder. It is associated with a significantly increased probability of treatment, although the finding that fewer than half of cases with 12-month co-occurrence received any treatment in the year prior to interview suggests the need for greater outreach efforts.
1,424 citations
TL;DR: The Medical Outcomes Study was designed to determine whether variations in patient outcomes are explained by differences in system of care, clinician specialty, and clinicians' technical and interpersonal styles and develop more practical tools for the routine monitoring of patient outcomes in medical practice.
Abstract: The Medical Outcomes Study was designed to (1) determine whether variations in patient outcomes are explained by differences in system of care, clinician specialty, and clinicians' technical and interpersonal styles and (2) develop more practical tools for the routine monitoring of patient outcomes in medical practice. Outcomes included clinical end points; physical, social, and role functioning in everyday living; patients' perceptions of their general health and well-being; and satisfaction with treatment. Populations of clinicians (n = 523) were randomly sampled from different health care settings in Boston, Mass; Chicago, Ill; and Los Angeles, Calif. In the cross-sectional study, adult patients (n = 22 462) evaluated their health status and treatment. A sample of these patients (n = 2349) with diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and/or depression were selected for the longitudinal study. Their hospitalizations and other treatments were monitored and they periodically reported outcomes of care. At the beginning and end of the longitudinal study, Medical Outcomes Study staff performed physical examinations and laboratory tests. Results will be reported serially, primarily inThe Journal. (JAMA. 1989;262:925-930)
1,139 citations
TL;DR: This study provides the first direct evidence that physician intervention with problem drinkers decreases alcohol use and health resource utilization in the US health care system.
Abstract: Objective. —Project TrEAT (Trial for Early Alcohol Treatment) was designed to test the efficacy of brief physician advice in reducing alcohol use and health care utilization in problem drinkers. Design. —Randomized controlled clinical trial with 12-month follow-up. Setting. —A total of 17 community-based primary care practices (64 physicians) located in 10 Wisconsin counties. Participants. —Of the 17 695 patients screened for problem drinking, 482 men and 292 women met inclusion criteria and were randomized into a control (n=382) or an experimental (n=392) group. A total of 723 subjects (93%) participated in the 12-month follow-up procedures. Intervention. —The intervention consisted of two 10- to 15-minute counseling visits delivered by physicians using a scripted workbook that included advice, education, and contracting information. Main Outcome Measures. —Alcohol use measures, emergency department visits, and hospital days. Results. —There were no significant differences between groups at baseline on alcohol use, age, socioeconomic status, smoking status, rates of depression or anxiety, frequency of conduct disorders, lifetime drug use, or health care utilization. At the time of the 12-month follow-up, there were significant reductions in 7-day alcohol use (mean number of drinks in previous 7 days decreased from 19.1 at baseline to 11.5 at 12 months for the experimental group vs 18.9 at baseline to 15.5 at 12 months for controls;t=4.33;P Conclusions. —This study provides the first direct evidence that physician intervention with problem drinkers decreases alcohol use and health resource utilization in the US health care system.
839 citations