Community Care Releases Best Practice Guidelines for Methadone
PITTSBURGH, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Care Behavioral Health Organization today released guidelines for treatment and recovery practices involving the use of methadone, an opioid used to treat opioid addiction.
The guidelines* – titled, "Supporting Recovery from Opioid Addiction: Community Care Best Practice Guidelines for Recovery-Oriented Methadone Maintenance" – are intended to provide direction for physicians, clinicians, agencies, and systems in the Community Care treatment and recovery network.
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is the most researched medication used in the effective treatment of opioid addiction. While continued stigma appears to be at the root of some of the current challenges to methadone maintenance treatment in Pennsylvania, many quality of care concerns require attention. Positive strategies include embracing the principles of recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC), recovery management (RM), and the enhancements to long-term recovery that this can affect.
Community Care believes that these best practice guidelines will assist in improving quality care and pathways to long-term recovery. The guidelines are based on a review of current literature as well as review by and input from multiple stakeholders.
"These best practices show our continuing support of whole-person care," said James M. Schuster, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer for Community Care. "Community Care hopes the best practices will promote accurate prescribing of medication in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies to provide a whole-person approach to the treatment of substance use disorders."
The guidelines are organized under categories, matching the levels of progress of persons in recovery to the intended outcomes:
- Phase 1: Recovery Initiation and Stabilization
- Phase 2: Early Recovery and Rehabilitation
- Phase 3: Recovery Maintenance
- Phase 4: Long-Term Sustained Recovery
- General Agency Guidelines
Community Care encourages an ongoing dialogue about these guidelines and the guideline development process. Please address your comments to Senior Director, Substance Use Disorder Initiatives, Marge Hanna at [email protected].
*
Download "Supporting Recovery from Opioid Addiction: Community Care Best Practice Guidelines for Recovery-Oriented Methadone Maintenance," at http://www.ccbh.com/providers/phealthchoices/bestpractice/index.php
About Community Care
Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, a nonprofit, tax-exempt recovery-focused behavioral health managed care organization headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, manages mental health and substance use disorder services for approximately 750,000 Medical Assistance recipients in Pennsylvania. Community Care also serves as the behavioral health organization for the Hudson River Region of New York State. Part of UPMC, Community Care was incorporated in 1996 with a mission to improve the health and well-being of the community through the delivery of effective and accessible behavioral health services.
SOURCE Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
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