Beacon Health Options Awards Three-year Grant to Shatterproof to Build a Rating System for Addiction Treatment Programs

BOSTON, Dec. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Health Options announced today that the company made a three-year grant to Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the devastation substance use disorder (SUD) causes families. The funding will be used to help build a rating system of SUD treatment programs nationwide so that the general public – as well as public and private payers, states, and referral sources -- can find high-quality addiction treatment measured by objective criteria.

"For too long, people with substance use disorder and their families have had to select treatment programs without reliable, objective information to support their choices," said Dr. Russell Petrella, President and CEO of Beacon Health Options. "The Shatterproof Rating System will allow them to compare available options and make informed decisions based on objective criteria. With the new rating system, the consumer has a better chance of selecting evidence-based treatment programs that have demonstrated improved outcomes – and the SUD treatment system is driven to become better."

By applying best practices for rating systems from health care and other business sectors to SUD treatment, the Shatterproof Rating System will standardize evaluation around the quality of treatment across all levels of care, settings, and treatment types. Using data from three sources – insurance claims, provider surveys, and consumer experience – the system will be searchable by location, insurance provider, quality, and more. It will be easy for consumers to understand, free for them to use, and allows them to report on their own experiences with addiction treatment programs.

Beacon's grant reflects the company's continued commitment to address the opioid crisis in meaningful ways. Beacon's advocacy and partnership with organizations such as Shatterproof's Substance Use Disorder Taskforce aligns with a broad range of strategies spanning prevention and early identification to treatment and recovery. The Taskforce developed eight evidenced-based National Principles of Care, drawing from the Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health, offering a framework to improve care for the more than 21 million Americans with substance use disorder. Many of those principles are incorporated into the Shatterproof Rating System.

"Improving access to evidenced based treatment is a cornerstone of our strategic approach," said Dr. Sherry Dubester, Chief Medical Officer of Beacon Health Options. "The rating system in conjunction with the broader principles of care, are important steps helping to level out the wide range of quality in addiction programs across our nation."

Starting in January, Shatterproof will be piloting the system in five states In addition to Beacon, the pilot is made possible through funding from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and a coalition of five other national health insurers.

To find out more information on this project and stay updated as it progresses, please visit www.shatterproof.org.

About Beacon Health Options
Beacon Health Options is a behavioral health management organization that serves 40 million individuals across all 50 states. We work with employers, health plans and government agencies to provide robust mental health and addiction services through innovative programs and solutions that improve the health and wellness of people every day. Beacon is a national leader in the fields of mental and emotional well-being, addiction, recovery, and employee health. Collaborating with a network of providers in communities around the country, we help individuals live their lives to the fullest potential. For more information, visit www.beaconhealthoptions.com and connect with us on www.facebook.com/beaconhealthoptions, www.twitter.com/beaconhealthopt and www.linkedin.com/company/beacon-health-options.

About Shatterproof
Founded by Gary Mendell to spare others the tragedy his family suffered with the loss of his son Brian to addiction in 2011, Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the devastation the disease of addiction causes families. Shatterproof is focused on one specific, urgent goal: to transform America's broken addiction treatment system. The organization is working to ensure that every American with a substance use disorder has access to treatment that's based on proven research. Shatterproof advocates for changes to federal and state policy, payer reform, and provider ratings, and provides public education through family and workplace programs.

SOURCE Beacon Health Options

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