NIATx Strategic Provider Partnerships Collaborative: Helping States Build Sustainable Specialty Addiction Treatment Systems

NIATx believes that creating strategic partnerships is becoming an integral part of addiction treatment and recovery processes. In today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape, specialty addiction treatment providers are seeking ways to sustain their organizations now and into the future. Emerging strategies involve joining or forming linkages with hospitals, health plans, accountable care organizations, or health systems. Single State Authorities can play an important role in helping treatment organizations identify and pursue

The  NIATx “Strategic Provider Partnerships Collaborative” launched in January 2015 is currently helping three states (Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) examine ways to strengthen their specialty addiction treatment systems. The project is offered under the umbrella of SAMSHA’s BHBusiness Plus, and it builds on the experience that both NIATx and the BHBusiness Plus have accumulated in recent years in helping behavioral health care providers adjust to changes in funding, regulations, and technology.

Todd Molfenter, co-deputy director of NIATx, leads the project. “The Strategic Provider Partnerships Collaborative addresses the issue of relevant partnerships and asks states to consider which partnerships their providers are ready to pursue now,” says Molfenter.

Participating states will complete a survey that provides an environmental scan of their respective addiction treatment systems.  After analyzing the scans, Molfenter and consultants involved with the project (Janet Zwick, Colette Croze, and Victor Capoccia) will provide each state with recommendations on how to address gaps and establish priorities for partnering options.

“We’re really looking at ways to build sustainability by making targeted changes at the organizational and service delivery levels, as well as at the state policy level,” says Molfenter.

The project will conduct payer-provider forums each of the three states over the summer, concluding with a summation event in August 2015. 

Molfenter adds that this project is unique in its region-specific focus.  “Our experience with other payer-provider partnerships will inform the approaches to change that we recommend. We anticipate that this project will also yield valuable information that other states or regions can apply in supporting their addiction treatment provider networks.”

For more information, contact Todd Molfenter at todd.molfenter@wisc.edu