Outcomes from the medication assisted treatment pilot program for adults with opioid use disorders in rural Colorado.

BACKGROUND: As Colorado ranked among the top nationally in non-medical use of opioids, a pilot medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) program was developed to increase the number of NPs and PAs providing MOUD in order to bring this evidence- based treatment to 2 counties showing disproportionally high opioid overdose deaths. Over the first 18 months, the MOUD Pilot Program led to 15 new health care providers receiving MOUD waiver training and 1005 patients receiving MOUD from the 3 participating organizations. Here we evaluate patient centered clinical and functional outcomes of the pilot MOUD program implemented in 2 rural counties severely affected by the opioid crisis. METHODS: Under state-funded law (Colorado Senate Bill 17-074), three rural agencies submitted de-identified patient-level data at baseline (N = 1005) and after 6 months of treatment (N = 190, 25%) between December 2017 and January 2020. The Addiction Severity Index, PhQ9 and GAD-7 with McNemar-Bowker, and Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests analysis were used to measure patient outcomes across after participation in the program. . RESULTS: Patients in treatment reported using less heroin (52.1% vs 20.4%), opioids (22.3% vs 11.0%), and alcohol (28.6% vs 13.1%, all P < 0.01). Patients reported improved health (53.4% vs. 68.2%, P = 0.04), less frequency of disability (8.69 vs. 6.51, P = 0.02), symptoms (29.8% vs 21.3%), pain (67.5% to 53.6), worry (45.3% vs 62.3%), anxiety (49.7% vs 23.2%), depression (54.1% vs 23.3%, all P < 0.02) after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows decreased substance use, improved physical and mental health, and reduced symptoms after 6 months of MOUD. Although more research on retention and long-term effects is needed, data shows improved health outcomes after 6 months of MOUD. Lessons learned from implementing this pilot program informed program expansion into other rural areas in need to address some of Colorado' major public health crises.

From policy to practice: Pilot program increases access to medication for opioid use disorder in rural Colorado.

Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is an important approach to address the opioid crisis, but rural areas have limited access to MOUD. In 2016, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) became eligible to prescribe buprenorphine. Local and state stakeholders in Colorado, including clinicians, policymakers, law enforcement, and patient advocates, formed a collaborative to develop legislative policy and programs for the opioid epidemic. A pilot MOUD program was developed in 2017 to increase the number of NPs and PAs providing MOUD and to increase access to MOUD in 2 counties with high opioid overdose rates. A central coordinating site selected 3 clinical agencies through an open call for proposals, with review of applications by nursing faculty experts and a community advisory board. We then monitored the number of waivered providers and patients served in targeted counties. Providers at pilot program sites tracked costs, community-level barriers, facilitators of success via monthly reports. Sites were funded for 18 months. Seven MOUD providers were added in County 1, a 350% increase compared to the prior year, and there are now 8 MOUD providers in County 2 where there were previously none. County 1 increased MOUD services from 99 clients in 2017 to 582 in 2018 and 317 during the first half of 2019. County 2 provided MOUD services for 60 new clients in 2018 and 46 in the first half of 2019. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, and other approaches were used to increase patient engagement and days without opioid use. Successes included community outreach, referral networks, and provider education to reduce stigma. Barriers to sustainability included 1) reimbursement, 2) stigma, and 3) coordination with hospitals. Policy efforts, legislation, and academic-community collaboration led to an increase in MOUD providers and patients served in rural counties severely affected by the opioid crisis.