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: Although a causal link cannot be established between receiving Continuing Care and reduced long-term costs in this observational study, the findings reinforce the importance of access to health care and development of interventions that optimize patients receiving those services and that may reduce costs to health systems.
Abstract: Background:The importance of a continuing care approach for substance use disorders (SUDs) is increasingly being recognized. Our prior research found that a Continuing Care model for SUDs that incorporates 3 components (regular primary care, and specialty SUD and psychiatric treatment as needed) is
22 citations
Cites background from "Integrating primary medical care wi..."
...Details of the study recruitment procedures and eligibility have been published.(36,37) For all SUD patients, a sample of non-SUD health plan members was drawn from the same catchment area matched on age, sex, and length of enrollment....
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...Providing PC linkage for these patients has been shown to be beneficial.(37) Strategies facilitating PC linkage in the treatment of SUDs as in other disease management programs have the potential for large benefits to patient health and the health plan....
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TL;DR: Performance measures for treatment settings that consider treatment outcomes may need to take into account both abstinence and reduction to nonheavy drinking, as well as healthcare utilization and costs over 5 years.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Lower-risk drinking is increasingly being examined as a treatment outcome for some patients following addiction treatment. However, few studies have examined the relationship between drinking status (lower-risk drinking in particular) and healthcare utilization and cost, which has important policy implications. METHODS: Participants were adults with alcohol dependence and/or abuse diagnoses who received outpatient alcohol and other drug treatment in a private, nonprofit integrated healthcare delivery system and had a follow-up interview 6 months after treatment entry (N = 995). Associations between past 30-day drinking status at 6 months (abstinence, lower-risk drinking defined as nonabstinence and no days of 5+ drinking, and heavy drinking defined as 1 or more days of 5+ drinking) and repeated measures of at least 1 emergency department (ED), inpatient or primary care visit, and their costs over 5 years were examined using mixed-effects models. We modeled an interaction between time and drinking status to examine trends in utilization and costs over time by drinking group. RESULTS: Heavy drinkers and lower-risk drinkers were not significantly different from the abstainers in their cost or utilization at time 0 (i.e., 6 months postintake). Heavy drinkers had increasing odds of inpatient (p CONCLUSIONS: Performance measures for treatment settings that consider treatment outcomes may need to take into account both abstinence and reduction to nonheavy drinking. Future research should examine whether results are replicated in harm reduction treatment, or whether such outcomes are found only in abstinence-based treatment. Language: en
22 citations
TL;DR: Implementing integrated HIV and buprenorphine/naloxone treatment requires different resources, including costs that are not third-party reimbursed, and implementing integrated care will require funding for training and for new staff such as bupenorphine coordinators, in addition to reimbursement for bupreliminary treatment.
Abstract: Background Implementing integrated HIV and buprenorphine/naloxone treatment requires cost estimates to plan and obtain funding. Methods We identified costs incurred at HIV clinical sites participating in a cross-site evaluation of integrated care that followed patients for 1 year. Costs include labor, overhead, and urine toxicology analyses (clinic perspective), buprenorphine/naloxone (payer perspective) and patient time and transportation (patient perspective). Sites provided resource utilization quarterly, and providers estimated time required for each activity. With site as the unit of analysis, results are reported as median (range) of average site costs in 2008 US dollars. Results The median number of monthly provider encounters for integrated care patients was 3.2 (1.5-13.3) compared with 1.7 (1.1-4.2) for similar patients not in integrated care, but integrated care patients had fewer physician encounters. Median monthly clinic costs per integrated care patient were $136 ($67-$677) for labor and overhead and $8 ($2-$23) for toxicology analyses, $22 higher than clinic costs for patients not in integrated care. Median monthly costs for buprenorphine/naloxone were $209 ($165-$272), and monthly patient costs in integrated care were $11 ($1-$54) higher. Conclusions Integrated HIV and buprenorphine/naloxone treatment requires different resources, including costs that are not third-party reimbursed. Implementing integrated care will require funding for training and for new staff such as buprenorphine coordinators, in addition to reimbursement for buprenorphine/naloxone. Further research is needed to identify potential cost offsets outside of the clinic setting.
21 citations
TL;DR: Investing in more intensive services on site may yield better outcomes for CHC patients than lower level services, but further study is recommended.
21 citations
TL;DR: Results from analyses of National Drug Abuse Treatment System Survey data from 1988 through 2000 suggest that organizational attributes such as age, size, and client severity and resource dependencies such as reliance on government revenue affect survival, but their effects change over time.
Abstract: Substance abuse remains one of the most pressing health issues in the United States today, yet treatment supply continues to lag far behind need. Given the hostile environments treatment facilities...
21 citations
Cites background from "Integrating primary medical care wi..."
...2001), shifting emphasis on outpatient substance abuse treatment (OSAT) settings and clients with increasingly complex substance abuse, social service, and medical care needs (Weisner et al. 2001)....
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...…managed behavioral health care organizations (Olmstead, White, and Sindelar 2004; Galanter et al. 2001), shifting emphasis on outpatient substance abuse treatment (OSAT) settings and clients with increasingly complex substance abuse, social service, and medical care needs (Weisner et al. 2001)....
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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