Healthcare Reform and Addiction

The U.S. healthcare system remains fragmented, but advocates for treatment of mental illness and substance abuse problems are fighting for change.

As the debate rages on in the U.S. over healthcare, the current system remains “fragmented,” according to the experts. There isn’t a single national entity or set of policies guiding the healthcare system at the national, state, community or practice levels. With healthcare reform such a hot topic right now, experts are taking the opportunity to push for a restructuring of chronic care, including substance use disorders.

Mental Illness and Substance Dependency Leading Problems

While health issues like heart disease and diabetes dominate the headlines, the Institute of Medicine reports that mental illness and substance dependence problems are the leading cause of combined disability and death among women, and the second-highest among men. Overcoming the challenges and costs associated with care for those individuals will result in more successful treatment and lower death rates.

Fortunately, a major step forward toward reaching this goal was recently achieved. The Treatment Research Institute hosted representatives from 25 states, accrediting bodies and federal agencies at a workshop to discuss the implementation of treatment standards recommended by the National Quality Forum (NQF).  The NQF is a Congressional charter to work with researchers, academics, policy makers and providers in the drug, alcohol and related fields.

Comprehensive Treatment

These recommended standards embrace the concept that substance abuse disorders are chronic conditions that can be successfully treated with a continuum of comprehensive services linked between and among various agencies, including mental and medical healthcare agencies and treatment providers. These key stakeholders have supported the continuum of care, cross-agency model for the delivery of substance-abuse treatment ever since the NQF published them in 2007, but retooling a publicly-funded delivery system that’s not geared to this model has been a difficult roadblock to hurdle on the way toward widespread dissemination and restructuring.

During the workshop, which addressed adoption of the NQF standards in state-funded treatment systems, implementation of small-scale pilot programs were presented by representatives of five states. Participants also discussed solutions to overcome barriers in order for states to incorporate the standards. Through a grant from the Open Society Institute, Dr. Mady Chalk, Ph.D., and Richard Rawson, Ph.D., of UCLA are leading a national dissemination/implementation project for the NQF standards.

Public and private purchasers of care need to be aware that these standards of care should be included in their purchasing agreements. Providers of care need to be equally aware that there are expectations attached to the care they deliver and consumers need to be aware of what they should expect from both purchasers and providers.

Addiction Treatment at La Paloma

If you or someone you love is in need of treatment for an addiction, call La Paloma at our toll-free number, 877-345-1887. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.