Shatterproof to Build a Rating System for Addiction Treatment Programs

Aims to transform addiction treatment system in the US to deliver high-quality care

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Dec 18, 2018, 08:00 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the devastation addiction causes families, announced that they are building a rating system of addiction treatment programs. After releasing the National Principles of Care for substance use disorder treatment one year ago, the organization will now measure whether addiction treatment programs are delivering care that aligns with these evidence-based best practices. The information will be made publicly available to those searching for high-quality addiction treatment, as well as to public and private payers, states, and referral sources. This tool will bring transparency and credibility to the addiction treatment system and align market forces with high-quality care. This is a $5M project that has been made possible with the generous funding of two foundations and a coalition of five national health care companies.

"We know that addiction can be treated with the same effectiveness as other chronic diseases, but that this care is largely unavailable to those in need. It is time that a standard be set across all of addiction treatment, and that the entire system aligns behind high-quality care," said Gary Mendell, Founder and CEO of Shatterproof.

The current addiction treatment system is broken, hindered by fragmentation and a financing structure that perpetuates outdated care models and slows adoption of best practices. Transforming the current addiction treatment system to one that delivers high-quality, evidence-based care is imperative to meet the needs of the nation's growing opioid and addiction epidemic.

"People who need help for addiction don't know what to look for or where to turn. Right now, there is more transparent and credible information about the quality of your next refrigerator than an addiction treatment program," said Sam Arsenault, Director of National Treatment Quality Initiatives at Shatterproof. "We are taking rating system best practices from healthcare and other business sectors and applying them to addiction treatment. This will not only provide critical information to individuals looking for care but also drive a long overdue transformation of the addiction treatment industry."

The Shatterproof Rating System will standardize expectations around the quality of addiction treatment across all levels of care, settings, and types of treatment. This will help repair the current fragmentation of the system, integrating addiction treatment into mainstream healthcare.

The Shatterproof Rating System will utilize data from three sources: insurance claims, provider surveys, and consumer experience. The National Quality Forum (NQF) will collaborate with Shatterproof on this important project. NQF will identify experts and partner to assess the best way to promote high quality care in addiction treatment, while also making recommendations to implement a national addiction treatment program rating system.

"Millions of Americans suffer from addiction. Currently, patients and their families have no way to evaluate the quality of addiction treatment services," said Shantanu Agrawal, President and CEO of NQF. "The new rating system is the first step in creating a national standard for quality improvement and ultimately transforming addiction treatment altogether. This will help to ensure that everyone who is battling this awful disease is getting the highest quality of care."

Before looking to expand nationally, Shatterproof will pilot this rating system in a select number of states through a public-private partnership with state leadership and commercial insurance carriers. The analytics for the project will be conducted by RTI International. RTI develops and maintains accurate and reliable quality rating systems for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other organizations.

"Consumers can find information and accurate data on the quality of nursing homes, hospitals, physicians, and most other types of providers," said Tami Mark, Director of Behavioral Health Financing and Quality Measurement at RTI International. "It's time that patients have reliable information on addiction treatment."

The pilot is made possible through funding from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and a coalition of five national health care companies: Anthem, Inc., Beacon Health Options, Cigna, Magellan Health, and UnitedHealth Group.

To find out more information on this project and stay updated as it progresses please visit https://www.shatterproof.org/task-force-landing.

About Shatterproof:
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.

About National Quality Forum:
The National Quality Forum (NQF) is the nation's resource for healthcare quality measurement and improvement. NQF is an independent, not-for-profit, membership-based organization that brings healthcare stakeholders together to recommend quality measures and improvement strategies that reduce costs and help patients get better care. Learn more at www.qualityforum.org.

About RTI International:
RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across the social and laboratory sciences, engineering, and international development. We believe in the promise of science, and we are inspired every day to deliver on that promise for the good of people, communities, and businesses around the world. For more information, visit www.rti.org.

SOURCE Shatterproof