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Projects > Opioid Medication-assisted Treatment Expansion Project

Opioid Medication-assisted Treatment Expansion Project

Opioid Medication-assisted Treatment Expansion Project

Helping organizations in Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin improve opioid MAT capacity.

Project Description

Buprenorphine (or Suboxone®) and injectable Naltrexone (Vivitrol) are key resources to address the increase in opioid use disorders and overdose deaths. However, treatment organizations have struggled with a variety of issues related to expanding medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Aim of the Opioid MAT Expansion project

Increase buprenorphine and injectable naltrexone use through:

  • Increased prescriber availability
  • New service line (for some organizations)
  • Improve existing services experiencing issues of underutilization, inefficient processes, and poor financial performance

Method

NIATx, based at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, will work with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers and health systems in Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin to design and implement strategies to expand MAT capacity at their organizations.

This project will address the issue of physician recruitment by employing a group of practices, the Physician Recruiting Bundle (PRB). The PRB includes:

  • Candidate identification strategies
  • Physician educational forums
  • Flexible physician work scheduling
  • Academic detailing
  • Telemedicine

Project Plan

The study will take place over 2 years. Treatment sites will be divided into control and intervention groups. For the intervention group, NIATx coaches will engage with contacts at SUD treatment sites and health systems. The coach is an expert in physician recruitment and organizational change who will help organizations make, sustain, and spread PRB practices. Coaches consult with executive leaders, physician recruiters, and clinical staff and offer feedback based on user assessment tools and previous conversations with the organization. Coaches help organizations:

  • Think through key issues
  • Offer process improvement training
  • Suggest changes to make

Coaching is provided during a site visit, monthly coach calls, and e-mails as needed. Control sites will receive PRB resources, however will not receive technical assistance from the coaches.

This project is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).