Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | March 6, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 15 Treatment accessibility Source: Mass. Bureau of Substance Abuse Services H E A L T H C A R E F O C U S HIRE AND College of the Holy Cross • Worcester, MA Leveraging the 'Autism Advantage' to Meet the Region's Workforce Demands TUESAPR1117 The 3rd Annual Central Massachusetts Autism Summit presented by HMEA, Inc. HIGHER: Prsrt Std US Postage PAID Permit #359 Gardner MA Prsrt Std US Postage PAID Permit #359 Gardner MA KHJ23184_MAS211_Tombstone 6.625x5.5_MECH.indd 1 12/12/16 12:09 PM Massachusetts is in Leominster, which expands access in the hard-hit North Central Massachusetts area. The company will open another in Millbury this year. The outpatient locations offer medica- tion-assisted treatment, which is a meth- od that uses drugs like methadone and vivitrol to block opioid cravings. These outpatient programs are crucial for long-term recovery, Isaacson said, but medication-assisted treatment is also a relatively good money-maker, creating a healthy revenue stream. State changes lack provider incentive Isaacson recognized the state's work under Gov. Charlie Baker to make changes to fight opioid addiction, including a law in March 2016 impos- ing limits on opioid prescribing, stricter prescription moni- toring and require- ments for substance abuse screening in emergency rooms and schools. The state provided funding for 128 detox and stabiliza- tion beds after the opioid addiction crisis was dubbed a public health emergency in 2014. However, the rates paid for those beds aren't attractive to many providers, he said. Playing the volume game MassHealth reimbursement rates have dwindled in recent years as the cost of delivering services has increased, said Ed Moore, CEO of Southbridge-based Harrington HealthCare. The trick is stay- ing ahead of that decline. Harrington opened a new inpatient treatment facility, Harrington Recovery Services at Webster, at the beginning of the year. With a large number of patients covered by MassHealth plans, Harrington is pressured to maximize provider pro- ductivity, Moore said. Greg Mirhej, executive director of Central Massachusetts is home to several addiction treatment providers, but accessibility varies depending on insurance coverage. Provider No. of beds Medicaid funded? AdCare Hospital of Worcester 114 No Recovery Centers of America at Westminster 16 No New England Recovery Center (Westborough) 36 No Charles J. Faris Recovery Center (Westborough) 48 Yes Community HealthLink Thayer Detox Center (Worcester) 45 Yes Behavioral Health Services at Harrington, said it's "almost like this pure volume game," which is frustrating for clinicians who want to provide the best treatment possible. Meanwhile, addiction services franchis- es like Recovery Centers of America in Westminster and Sunspire Health in Ashby can forgo treating Medicaid patients entirely if they choose, focusing on the commercial market. "If you're in a certain location, and you're going to be full (with commercial- ly-covered patients) why would you take Medicaid?" Mirhej said. Continued from Page 13 Opioid payment crisis Kurt Isaacson, president & CEO, Spectrum Health System W

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