Founded and sponsored by the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD), Alcohol Awareness Month was established in 1987 to help reduce the stigma associated with alcohol use disorder. NCADD promotes public awareness related to alcohol use disorders each April by providing education related to alcohol use and paths to recovery. This year’s theme is  “For the Health of It: Early Education on Alcoholism and Addiction.”

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has several helpful resources related to providing education on alcohol use and recovery. SAMHSA’s “Talk. They Hear You.” campaign  supports this year’s theme of providing early education on alcoholism and addiction as it educates parents and caregivers on how to talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol at an early age. More information and resources from SAMHSA’s campaign can be found here.

BCBSRI encourages all primary care providers to universally screen for substance use disorders using the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model. SBIRT is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. SBIRT consists of three major components:

• Screening – A healthcare professional assesses a patient for risky substance use behaviors using standardized screening tools.
• Brief Intervention – A healthcare professional engages a patient showing risky substance use behaviors in a short conversation, providing feedback and advice
• Referral to Treatment – A healthcare professional provides a referral to brief therapy or additional treatment to patients who screen in need of additional services

Screening for substance use disorders using the SBIRT model is a reimbursable service. Please refer to the following policies for details:

Medicare: Preventive Services for Medicare Advantage Plans

Commercial: Preventive Services for Commercial Members

BCBSRI provides access to several programs to support our members who may be struggling with substance use disorders:

The CODAC Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program – This outpatient Buprenorphine/Naloxone or Buprenorphine program is offered by CODAC, a substance use disorder treatment facility. BCBSRI has partnered with Rhode Island’s first Center of Excellence (COE) for the treatment of opioid dependence to provide comprehensive medication assisted treatment-related services to BCBSRI commercial members to facilitate recovery. The goal of the program is to offer structured and intensive treatment including MAT, such as Suboxone, nursing, counseling, and case management services that ultimately lead to recovery and the ability to maintain recovery in a less intensive treatment program.

If you wish to refer someone to the program, please contact CODAC at (401) 461-5056.

The Aware Recovery Care of Rhode Island In-home Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program – Aware Recovery provides medically integrated substance use disorder treatment in the home with minimal disruption to work and family life. Aware Recovery offers members easy access to 24/7 admissions and individualized treatment. A mobile care team provides in-home withdrawal management and services are MAT integrated. The client-centered treatment plan is especially unique as a hybrid of both virtual and in-home visits by in-home addiction treatment (IHAT) practitioners are used to deliver care. Aware Recovery recognizes that addiction is a family disease, meaning that addiction can affect loved ones as much as the recovering individual. This model allows family to be involved in the treatment process through regular family sessions and wellness consultations with a licensed family system therapist.

Please contact Aware Recovery Care of Rhode Island at (401) 232-4166 or visit https://www.awarerecoverycare.com/ for more information.

Peer Recovery Coaches – BCBSRI offers Peer Recovery Coaching services to our commercial and Medicare Advantage members. Peer Recovery Coaching is a SAMHSA-recognized tool that facilitates recovery and reduces healthcare costs. Peer Recovery Coaches are individuals in recovery themselves who have been through extensive training to provide support to their peers. Recovery Coaches do not diagnose or treat addiction, but rather serve as a bridge to substance use services and community supports.

To learn more about Peer Recovery Coaching visit any of our network Peer Recovery providers’ websites:

• Anchor Recovery – www.anchorrecovery.org
• Fellowship Health Resources – www.fhr.net/
• East Bay Center – www.ebcap.org/
• Thundermist Health Center – www.thundermisthealth.org/
• Galilee Mission, Inc. – www.galileemission.net/
• Northeast Behavioral Associates – www.northeastfamilyservices.com
• Trinity Healthy Living – www.trinityvillage.org/our-services/
• The Providence Center – www.providencecenter.org/

You can also contact Hannah Wickstrom, BCBSRI’s associate behavioral health operations specialist, at (401) 459-1216 or hannah.wickstrom@bcbsri.org.

How do I connect a patient to behavioral health services?

The behavioral health system can be confusing and overwhelming for your patients to navigate. As BCBSRI continues to expand our continuum of behavioral health services, we realize that providers may have questions regarding the types of services available for their patients. There are several ways to learn more about behavioral health benefits and services:

• The Provider Call Center [(401) 274-4848 or 1-800 230-9050] can answer questions regarding a member’s benefits, including member liability for services. They can also assist if you are simply looking for a participating behavioral health provider. You can also use the Find a Doctor tool on BCBSRI.com if you are simply looking for a behavioral health provider.
• The BCBSRI BH Clinical Referral Line is answered by clinical behavioral health staff. The clinical referral line can help you identify a behavioral health provider, as well as provide support and guidance. The clinical referral line should not be used if there is concern of imminent danger but can be a first point of contact in non-emergency situations. The clinician, who may be a registered nurse, independently licensed social worker, or a mental health counselor, will ask questions to get a better understanding of your patient’s needs. The clinician will provide you with information about services that are available and will offer the names and contact information for providers who offer these services. You can contact the Clinical Referral Line at 1-800-274-2958. You may also share this number with your patients if they prefer to contact BCBSRI themselves.
• The BCBSRI BH Case Management Program can assist your patients in effectively managing their behavioral health conditions. Independently licensed behavioral health clinicians will work with your patients to:
  • Help them understand barriers that prevent them from getting the most from their treatment or in obtaining recommended treatment.
  • Help them find and obtain services or resources needed to better manage their behavioral health condition.
  • Provide education and supports to help them better manage their condition.
  • Coordinate care with providers to ensure you and your patients have the necessary information to provide them with the best care and support.
  • Work with them to ensure they know the medications they should be taking and understand the instructions you’ve provided to them.

To refer a patient to BCBSRI BH Case Management Program, please call 1-800-274-2958. You may also use our online automated referral form by following these easy steps:

1. Log on to the provider portal of BCBSRI.com.

2. Click on Tools and Resources.

3. Click on Forms.

4. Click on Case Management Request.

5. Complete the required fields and click Go!

Behavioral Health Link (BH Link) is a statewide resource available to all commercial members. BH link provides immediate crisis intervention services. BH Link also connects individuals with ongoing treatment and care through their professional team of nurses, counselors, psychiatrists, and peer specialists through their 24/7 statewide call center and/or their 24/7 triage center where individuals can walk in to receive stabilizing emergency behavioral health services and be connected to long-term care and recovery support.

For more information about BH Link, please contact the BH Link Hotline at (401) 414-LINK (5465).

Opioid treatment programs – BCBSRI offers opioid treatment programs to our commercial and Medicare Advantage populations. For more information, call any of these participating opioid treatment programs:

• CODAC – (401) 490-0716
• Addiction Recovery Institute – (401) 725-2520
• BHG Pawtucket Treatment Center – (401) 727-1287
• The Journey to Hope – 1-877-400-4673
• VICTA – (401) 300-5757