Assessment and Interventions for Substance Use and Opioid Use Disorders

Molina Healthcare adopted an enterprise-wide Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care Model with the purpose of providing the best practice approach to addressing SUD issues amongst Molina membership. Molina understands the importance of providing support to network providers to ensure they are equipped with the tools they need to serve this population. Molina offers the SUD Navigation Program, the Case Management component of the SUD Care Model, which provides targeted case management to members struggling with SUD issues. See below for more information and how to refer.

Substance Use Disorders (SUD) and Opioid Use Disorders (OUD) can present in primary care and specialty settings. Molina’s goal is to encourage and support providers in prevention, screening, and intervention efforts at all levels of care regardless of specialty. Dependence and addiction can stand alone, but there can also be a relationship between mental health and/or chronic pain related opioid therapy. Molina continues to align with nationally recognized clinical guidelines to ensure access and appropriate interventions are available to manage SUDs and OUDs, as well as co-occurring conditions.

A pattern of substance use (alcohol or other drugs) may lead to clinical impairment affecting your patient’s overall health and well-being. During your evaluation of your patient, you may discover a further need to assess the frequency of use, drug of choice (prescribed or non-prescribed) due to presenting factors, including: a developed tolerance leading to more use over time; persistent inability to cut down or stop use; a strong desire or urge to use substances resulting in failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school, or home.

Screening

Molina Healthcare recommends the use of the CAGE-AID to screen for alcohol and other drug abuse & dependence. You can obtain a copy of the CAGE-AID below. The National Institute on Drug Abuse also recommends additional screening tools, which can be found HERE.

The CAGE-AID questionnaire is used to test for alcohol and other drug abuse and dependence in adults.

The tool is not diagnostic but is indicative of the existence of an alcohol or other drug problem.

Each item on the CAGE-AID is scored 0 or 1. A total score of 2 or greater is considered clinically significant, which then should lead the physician to ask more specific questions about frequency and quantity CAGE is derived from the four questions of the tool:

  •  Cut down
  •  Annoyed
  •  Guilt
  •  Eye-Opener
  • “AID” refers to Adapted to Include Drug Use

 

When thinking about drug use, include illegal drug use and the use of prescription drug use other than prescribed.

YES

NO

1. Have you felt you shouldcut downor stop drinking or using drugs?

 

 

2. Has anyoneannoyedyou or gotten on your nerves by telling you to cut down or stop drinking or using drugs?

 

 

3. Have you feltguiltyor bad about how much you drink or use drugs?

 

 

4. Have you been waking up wanting to have an alcoholic drink or use drugs? (eye-opening)

 

 

TOTAL 'YES' SCORE

 

 

 

SCORING

Regard one or more positive responses to the CAGE-AID as a positive screen.

ICD 10 Codes

ICD 10 codes capture current symptoms, severity, and onset

Opioid Dependence with Withdrawal: F11.23

Opioid Dependence with Opioid-Induced Mood Disorder: F11.24

Treatment and Intervention Options

Providers are responsible for coordinating care and providing or referring members to appropriate treatment. Treatment benefits vary for each member, so providers are encouraged to check member’s benefit structure prior to referring.

Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT)

There are FDA-approved medication-based therapies to treat opioid dependence, such as Buprenorphine and Naltrexone. MAT services may be covered for the member; however, providers are encouraged to verify coverage.

Outpatient/Intermediate Services

Psychotherapy, Intensive Outpatient Programs, or Partial Hospitalization Programs may be covered for the member. Providers are encouraged to verify benefit coverage and refer to an in-network provider or program as clinically appropriate.

Residential Treatment Centers (RTC)

RTC may be a covered benefit for members with more intensive needs and who meet medical necessity for these services. Please verify coverage and request an in-network program.

Molina’s SUD Navigation Program

The Molina SUD Navigation Program is the Care Management component of the overall Molina SUD Care Model. Members enrolled in this program work closely with an SUD Navigator, a specialized care manager with expertise in substance use disorders, pain management, and mental health. The SUD Navigator utilizes specific screening and assessment tools, provides education that will increase knowledge of their condition; connect members with resources to assist with adequate access to treatment and helps reduce barriers to other Social Determinants of Health; and support members with care coordination of services to address opioid use issues.  Through the SUD Navigation Program, enrolled members receive member-centric, targeted case management and support with navigating the healthcare system to manage issues with substance use. Please reach out to the Case Management Team for more information on this program or to refer.

Key Interventions for Providers

    1. Support member in locating local 12-Step or self-support recovery meetings, such as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or Celebrate Recovery.
    2. Connect eligible members to the Molina Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Program for support with medication reconciliation and prescription safety. Reach out to the Molina Case Management Team to determine eligibility for this program.
    3. Educate members about local Controlled Substance Public Disposal locations. Collection sites can be located by contacting local law enforcement or by searching by zip code on the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s Locator Tool.
    4. Refer members to the  Molina SUD Navigation Program, the Care Management component of the overall Molina SUD Model of Care (see above for more detail).

CDC Guidelines on Rx Opioids and Chronic Pain

The Center for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) established Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. Molina Healthcare aligns with these guidelines, which are intended to improve communication between providers and patients about risks and benefits of opioid therapy, as well as provide support to providers in reducing associated risks and improving the safety and effectiveness of pain. Visit the  CDC’s Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain to access the complete list, which includes:

  • 12 Guidelines for Prescribing
  • Clinical Reminders
  • Determining when to start/continue opioid therapy for chronic pain
  • Opioid selection, dosage, duration, follow-up
  • Assessing for risk and harm

Resources and Partnerships

Case Scenario

48-year-old male presents with tolerance - use has increased from 12 12-oz beers daily to 18-20 12- oz beers daily. Has tried but states he's unable to stop use despite work and marriage problems due to alcohol dependence. Missing work 3-4 days/month. Late to work several times/weeks. Increase in intensity of arguments with wife, who is threatening to divorce.

Assessment and Diagnosis: Patient is aware of risks of continuing use especially given A-fib and Coumadin medication therapy (F10.20, Alcohol Dependence, Uncomplicated).

Plan: Referred patient to AA meetings or other 12-step support program. Patient will consider.

**For specific Risk Adjustable codes related to Substance Use Disorders, contact

RAMP.Operations@MolinaHealthCare.Com

 PsychHub Education and Learning Available to You

Through our partnership with PsychHub, an online platform for digital mental health education, Molina network providers are able to access PsychHub’s library of educational courses and material at no charge. To create an account at no cost, please visit the Molina PsychHub landing page at https://resources.psychhub.com/molina . Create an account to find these and other relevant courses: