Ten states have activated new substance abuse prevention and treatment health codes for screening and brief intervention (SBI) of Medicaid-eligible patients, according to Dr. Bertha K. Madras, deputy director for Demand Reduction in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The states will reimburse doctors and affiliated medical professionals who screen their Medicaid-eligible patients for a spectrum of substance use behaviors and disorders.
It is reported that SBI continues to gain traction in the medical and public health communities, as assessments combined with on-the-spot interventions and referrals have shown to be effective in reducing substance abuse, while also saving healthcare dollars.
"These states have taken an historic step in transforming substance abuse in the United States," said Madras. "By 'medicalizing' the detection and intervention of substance abuse, the 10 states recognize the need to de-stigmatize substance abuse and mainstream preventive services into general medical care. This innovative approach will help diminish the public health burden of substance abuse in their respective state and catalyze preventive medical procedures in a cost-effective and sustainable manner."
Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington have activated the American Medical Association's Common Procedural Terminology codes or the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' HCPCS codes for screening and brief intervention. The tenth state, Wisconsin, is using screening and brief intervention as part of a comprehensive package of health services for pregnant women.
Personalized screening and brief intervention procedures are designed to assess an individual's substance use on a spectrum and provide immediate interventions or referrals, if necessary. Screenings and brief interventions can be performed in various locations and settings, including doctor's offices, trauma centers, emergency departments, prenatal and community health clinics, college campuses and even on the Internet.
"It is estimated that 95.5 percent of the 20 million Americans who harbor a medical diagnosis of abuse/addiction do not seek appropriate levels of care to address their illness/disease," said Madras. "SBI is slowly but steadily gaining acceptance in the medical and public health arena as a public health approach to prevent and treat substance abuse."
According to officials, more than 70 percent of enrollees in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program are covered by SBI services. CMS has also included SBI in its annual budget, with $265 million set aside to match state contributions for those who implement the codes for SBI.