10 States, Not Including NY, Enact Payment Codes for In-Office Addiction TreatmentDr. Bertha K. Madras, Deputy Director for Demand Reduction in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), announced that ten States have activated new substance abuse prevention and treatment health codes for screening and brief intervention (SBI) of Medicaid-eligible patients. The ten States will reimburse doctors, and affiliated medical professionals, who screen their Medicaid-eligible patients for a spectrum of substance use behaviors and disorders. SBI continues to gain traction in the medical and public health communities, as assessments combined with on-the-spot interventions and referrals have shown to be effective in reducing substance abuse, while also saving health-care dollars. The following nine States, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington, have activated American Medical Association Common Procedural Terminology codes (CPT®) or Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) HCPCS codes for screening and brief intervention, with a tenth State, Wisconsin, conducting screening and brief intervention as part of a comprehensive package of health services for pregnant women. "These States have taken an historic step in transforming substance abuse in the United States," said Dr. Bertha K. Madras. "By 'medicalizing' the detection and intervention of substance abuse, the ten States recognize the need to de-stigmatize substance abuse, and mainstream preventive services into general medical care. This innovative approach will help diminish the public health burden of substance abuse in their respective State, and catalyze preventive medical procedures in a cost-effective and sustainable manner." Editorial CommentThis seems like an important step for NY in expanding treatment options. Treating alcoholism in a doctor's office setting is proving itself to be a viable treatment option. Adding reimbursement codes in NY is an important step to making this happen. Source: This is from a press release from the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
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