Before large-scale federal assistance arrived to combat the opioid crisis, four organizations - Denver Health, Addiction, Research and Treatment Services, Behavioral Health Group- Longmont, and Crossroads Turning Point - stepped up to expand access to life-saving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for people experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD). MAT involves administering FDA-approved medications used specifically to treat OUD, and in combination with behavioral therapy, is considered the gold standard of treatment. These groups did this with support through OBH's Medication-Assisted Treatment Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction (MAT-PDOA) Grant Program. The goal of this three-year grant, which started in September 2016, was to induct 750 patients on MAT. By the grant's conclusion in September 2019, the grantees exceeded their goal by inducting 763 patients!
MAT-PDOA was established to enhance/expand treatment service systems to increase capacity and provide accessible, effective, comprehensive, coordinated care, and MAT to individuals with OUD seeking or receiving MAT while implementing a hub-and-spoke model of treatment. A hub-and-spoke model means that there is no wrong door for a patient seeking treatment. The hub is most often an Opioid Treatment Provider who typically provides a more intensive level of care for patients needing MAT. Spokes provide care for those who need a lesser level of treatment while also providing MAT. With the hub and spokes fully connected, patients are referred between the two depending on their level of care over time. The hub and spokes are also connected to wraparound services such as mental health supports, transportation, childcare, housing, family services, etc.
The implementation of this model has enabled providers to increase the number of individuals receiving MAT for the treatment of OUD and those receiving integrated care, as well as decrease illicit drug use and the use of prescription opioids in a non-prescribed manner.