Battling addictions in Mass.
To hear Spectrum Health Systems CEO Chuck Faris tell it, Massachusetts is a relatively good place to be in the addiction treatment services industry, and to receive treatment if you need it.
While the business has notoriously tight margins, thanks to lean federal reimbursements for substance abuse services, the Baker administration, and the Patrick administration before it, have worked to make treatment access as easy and available as possible in the wake of the now widespread opiate crisis in the U.S.
Last week, Faris said he was grateful that Baker and Patrick have treated the addiction epidemic as a public health problem, contrasting that approach with that of Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who has focused more on using up law enforcement to crack down on illegal drugs amid less funding for methadone treatment.
Where are services growing in Central Mass.?
While Spectrum will close its only outpatient methadone treatment center in Sanford, Maine, because reimbursements through Maine's Medicaid program have been reduced, the Worcester-based nonprofit is growing in Massachusetts. A private-pay facility opened in Westborough in May, followed by an outpatient treatment facility in downtown Leominster, which provides methadone, as well as counseling services. It's exploring more outpatient sites, including at least one more in North Central Massachusetts.
Are there shortfalls?
While Spectrum offers residential treatment services for those covered by federal and state payers, expanding inpatient beds for that population is difficult, according to Faris, because reimbursement rates fall short of costs. However, the company gained 20 beds when it opened its new Westborough site, which replaced a smaller facility in town. Meanwhile, a for-profit behavioral health services provider has announced plans to open a 104-bed residential treatment facility in Devens. Health Partners New England is slated to open the site in 2016. A 24-bed unit will be dedicated to treating people with substance abuse problems who have also been diagnosed with mental health disorders.
According to CEO Michael Krupa, psychiatric providers such as his receive higher reimbursements than companies that offer only addiction treatment services, so it's more feasible for them to offer those services in conjunction with mental health treatment.
What part does government policy play?
There is change afoot. In Massachusetts, a new law takes effect Oct. 1 that will require commercial insurers to provide up to 14 days of residential treatment services. Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Baker has proposed adding 100 residential treatment beds, which will open up resources for lower-income patients and those who need treatment for a longer period of time than their insurers will cover.
In at least one case, police have moved to connect drug users with treatment services rather than arrest them. In June, the Gloucester police began to send addicts to Spectrum facilities and others.
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