Founded in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), National Alcohol Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing public awareness and providing education on the treatment and prevention of alcoholism. NCADD aims to accomplish this through community-sponsored awareness activities, campaigns, and encouraging open discussions.

Source:  www.nationaltoday.com

BCBSRI encourages all PCPs 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 has the following supports in place for our members who may be struggling with substance use disorders:

Aware Recovery Care of Rhode Island In-home Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program: Provides medically integrated substance use disorder treatment in the home with minimal disruption to work and family life. The client-centered treatment plan is a unique hybrid of both virtual and in-home visits by in-home addiction treatment (IHAT) practitioners. A mobile care team provides in-home withdrawal management and services are MAT integrated. Members are given easy access to 24/7 admissions and individualized treatment. Aware Recovery recognizes 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 populations. 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. Peer recovery coaching is a SAMHSA-recognized tool that facilitates recovery and reduces healthcare costs.

To learn more about peer recovery coaching, visit any of our network peer recovery providers’ websites:

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

Opioid treatment programs: BCBSRI offers opioid treatment programs to our commercial and Medicare Advantage populations.

For more information, contact any of these 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

Behavioral Health Link (BH Link): A statewide resource available to all commercial members, BH Link provides immediate crisis intervention services. Through their professional team of nurses, counselors, psychiatrists, and peer specialists BH Link also connects individuals with ongoing treatment through their 24/7 statewide call center and/or their 24/7 walk-in triage center, where individuals can 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)

For more information, contact Monica Ross, Behavioral Health Population Health Specialist, at (401) 459-5287 or monica.ross@bcbsri.org.