Massachusetts Substance Use Disorder Treatment Organizations’ Perspectives on the Affordable Care Act

Changes in Payment, Services, and System Design

Bibliographic Data

ID13914181
AuthorsAmity E Quinn (0000-0002-1327-310X, Senior Research Associate, Institute for Behavioral Health, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA, corresponding author), Maureen T Stewart (0000-0002-5470-0307, Scientist, Institute for Behavioral Health, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA), Mary Brolin (0000-0002-0286-4860, Scientist, Institute for Behavioral Health, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA), Constance M Horgan (0000-0002-2659-7082, Professor and Director, Institute for Behavioral Health, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA), Nancy E Lane (0000-0002-0177-2198, Senior Vice President, Population Health Management, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt Medical School, Nashville, TN, USA)
Year2017
Volume49
Issue2
Pages151-159
Publication date2017-03-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Psychoactive Drugs (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0279-1072 • E-ISSN: 2159-9777
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02791072.2017.1301600
PMID28350232
OpenAlexW2601195038
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited28

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded insurance benefits and coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and encouraged delivery and payment reforms. Massachusetts passed a similar reform in 2006. This study aims to assess Massachusetts SUD treatment organizations' responses to the ACA. Organizational interviews addressing challenges of and responses to the ACA were conducted in person June-December 2014 with 31 leaders at 12 treatment organizations across Massachusetts. Many organizations were affiliated with medical or social services and offered a range of SUD services. Sampling was based on services offered (detoxification only, detoxification and outpatient, outpatient only). Framework analysis was used. Challenges identified were considered similar to ongoing challenges, not unique to the ACA. Organizations experienced insurance expansions in 2006 and faced new challenges, including insurance coverage, payment arrangements, expansion of services, and system design. System design efforts included care coordination/integration, workforce development, and health information technology. Differences in responses related to connections with medical and social service organizations. Many organizations engaged in efforts to respond to changing policies by expanding capacity and services. Offering a range of SUD treatment (e.g., detoxification and outpatient) and affiliating with a medical organization could enable organizations to respond to new insurance, delivery, and payment reforms

Business · Economic growth · Economics · Health care · Health insurance · Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act · Payment · Psychiatry · Substance use · Healthcare Policy and Management · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Primary Care and Health Outcomes · Psychology · Finance

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access