What Will it Take to Get Medicine to Screen and Intervene with Alcohol

and Other Drugs?

Two Stories about Research, Politics, Finance, Value and

Business

1

Schools

Population Prevalence

Addiction ~ 25,000,000

“Harmful – 60,000,000 Use”

Little or No UseLITTLE

LOTS

In Treatment ~ 2,300,000

TargetGroup

Population Prevalence

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Alcohol and drug use - even at levels below “addiction” - regularly lead to:

• misdiagnoses,• poor adherence to prescribed care, • interference with commonly prescribed medications, • greater amounts of physician time, • unnecessary medical testing, • poor outcomes and • increased costs

particularly in the management of chronic illness.

SBI – potential impact on healthcare

Vinson D, Ann Fam Med, 2004. Brown RL, J Amer Board Fam Prac, 2001. Humeniuk R, WHO, 2006. Manwell LB, J Addict Dis, 1998. Longabaugh R. Alcohol Res Health, 1999. Healthiest Wisconsin 2010, WI DHFS, 2000. USPSTF, Screening for Alcohol Misuse, 2004. National Quality Forum, National Voluntary Consensus Standards, 2006. Bernstein J, Drug Alcohol Depend, 2005. Saunders B, Addiction, 1995. Stephens RS, J Consult Clin Psychol, 2000. Copeland J, J Subst Abuse Treat 2001. Fleming MF, Med Care, 2000. Fleming MF, Alcohol Clin Exp Res, 2002. Gentilello LM, Ann Surg, 1999. Estee S, Medicaid Cost Outcomes, Interim Report 4.61.1.2007.2, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Yarnall KSH, Am J Public Health, 2003. Solberg LI, Am J Prev Med, 2008. National Committee on Prevention Priorities, http://www.prevent.org/content/view/43/71/. 3

1

SBI in Cancer Care

Background

Prominent University Medical Center in Philadelphia

• CEO of Healthcare System – “JCAH wants this – whatever it is – I want it in the whole system. Start with whichever clinic raises their hand.”

• Cancer center administrator raises his hand – currying favor

5

Rank Service Effect ROI

1 Aspirin to prevent heart attack & stroke 4 5

2 Childhood immunizations 5 5

3 Smoking screening & intervention 5 4

4 Alcohol screening & intervention 4 5

Scoring: 1 = lowest; 5 = highest Maciosek, Am J Prev Med. 2006; Solberg, Am J Prev Med. 2008; http://www.prevent.org/content/view/43/71

Rankings of Top Preventive Services Recommended by the USPSTF

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Wide agreement on benefits of screening and Brief Intervention (SBI):

• American Medical Association• American Academy of Pediatrics• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force• American Society of Addiction Medicine • Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism• National Quality Forum• Joint Commission

Professional Consensus on SBI

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Meeting 1 With Cancer Staff

• With Docs - ready to discuss procedures

• Go through slides – NO Questions

• Result

• Letter to Dean – “ Why do we have to do

Psychiatry’s work….trolling for addicts is not part of our mission”

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Meeting 2 With Cancer Staff

• Bring in the research

• Alcohol is significant predictor of susceptibility to BC

• Alcohol at any dose accelerates tumor growth

• BI reduces alcohol use among non-dependent drinkers

• BI is paid for

• Re-set Expectations

• NOT here for a favor – here to DO a favor

• If not good for cancer treatment – we leave – no problem

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Meeting 3 With Cancer Staff• Surprised but convinced by the research

• New concerns – fit and clinical value in work setting

• Training and Time (Rotations every 12 weeks)

• Workflow

• Who, When, How

• What exactly to say – What exactly to do

• Electronic Health Record (EHR)

• Patient Neg Reactions – “Probing into their lifestyle”

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Active problem of patient is entered into the patient’s problem list (this example is breast cancer)

SBI and EPIC

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Answers to two alcohol related questions are entered into a documentation flowsheet. When the first question has an answer >6 second question has an answer > 1 AND THE PATIENT HAS A BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS, it triggers the alert.

SBI and EPIC

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The combination of the diagnosis and the answers to the two questions will trigger the Best Practice Advisory. It will also give them the suggested Smartset. The provider fills out whether they: Counseled, Used SmartSet, Will Monitor closely, or Patient declined.

SBI and EPIC

EARLY Results

• No Patient Problems/Complaints

• No Intrusion into Workflow/Routine

• No “Alcoholism” – 9% drink above thresh.

• Cancer Center gets CQI credit/prize

• SBI is now part of regional cancer training

• CL Psychiatry develops Preventive Counseling Package (4 sessions)

• Reduced drinking, better cancer care ???14

1

SBI in Middle & High SchoolA Partnership Between TRI and

Phoenix House

Background

• Suburban NYC School System

• MANY Drug Problems

• School Superintendent – “We need help, teachers can’t teach, it’s getting dangerous …”

• Other little, insignificant issues

• School is broke – no money for new interventions

• Teacher’s Union will not allow teachers to do more

• School Board is furious w/Superintendent (Property Values) 16

Issues

• What MIGHT work?

• SBI

• Who should do health screening – can they pay?

• Health Department – Yes, part of recurring budget

• But NOT in schools – ONLY in “Registered Health Clinic”

• Who should do the BI and RT?

• SA Treatment program – but only if it is reimbursed

• Why would a kid self disclose substance use?

• PERHAPS if it were engaging, useful, confidential 17

Solutions Round 1• Create a “Health Clinic” in the School –

• Get specifications for minimal requirements

• Get architect, builder and inspector

• Get license and billing authorization - Phoenix House

• Get agreement that this is Prevention

• No need for Parent consent

• No record of “substance abuse treatment”

• Credit - Traci Donnelly – Phoenix House NY

• Credit – NYC DoH (OASAS) & DoE 18

Solutions Round 2• Create an engaging, anonymous screen

• Begin with CRAFFT – NYC regulations

• Use computer – private, multi-language, audio

• Tailored Messaging – like Pandora, Amazon, LL Bean

• Anonymous & Confidential – Both school and PH

• Personalized Feedback (BAC)

• Provide Tailored Guidance to Counselor for type of BI

• Develop detailed clinical protocol – manual – supervision

• CREDIT – Brenda Curtis, PhD – Annenberg Sch.

Solutions Round 3• Create tailored BI sessions and decision criteria

• Remember this is anonymous

• Green - Kids with no problems

• Yellow – Kids with emerging use

• Red – Kids with significant problems

• Fundamentally different – Parent Involvement

• Develop billing and administrative procedures

Alpha Testing – 2 months

• Insurance problems

• Ultimately need parental consent - insurance

• School scheduling problems – too much time out

• Screen only during non-academic classes

• Computer problems – integration with PH EHR

• Better, faster forms generation

• Training problems

• Two counselors could not learn MI21

Beta Testing – 2 Semesters• No teacher, admin or parent problems – so far

• Big problem is lack of concern• Screened 680 kids

• Over-reporting of substance use vs MTF

• 52% students report 0 use - 1 MI session

• 32% students report some use

• 26% students report serious use

• 16 kids & 9 parents referred to treatment

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Beta Testing – 2 Semesters• Three billing & referral problems

• DoH does not want to pay for neg screen

• DoH wants parent insurance numbers

• Priv insurers authorize only physicians

• Financially viable at 2 counselors @ 5-6 per day• Want depression, bullying, diabetes screens

• VERY UNIQUE SCHOOLS - NOT POSSIBLE TO GENERALIZE YET

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Lessons So Far

1. Unlikely to be a Generic SBI • “Fit” is critical – adaptation necessary

2. Primary Care SBI will be Difficult• 4 – 5 dx / patient – different guidelines / dx

3. Multiple “customers” &“outcomes”• Issues critical for initiation are different from

issues necessary to sustain.

Stake Holders - Customers

• CEO – wants regulatory approval

• CMO – wants CQI credit, potentially better care

• CFO – can’t lose money

• Physicians – Potentially better care, Can’t interfere, Must fit into workflow/culture

• Other Staff – CEUs, New skills, Feel valued25