Michigan Opioid Collaborative: Making a difference in patients’ lives

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has been at the forefront of battling the opioid epidemic in Michigan for several years and we’ve seen some significant transformation in the delivery of services to Michiganders with opioid use disorder.

We routinely hear compelling stories about how care is being delivered in physicians’ offices across the state — and how it’s changing people’s lives. One doctor in Traverse City took the time to write to us about how Blue Cross’ support of an opioid training program has not only transformed the lives of her patients but resulted in increased job satisfaction for her. The doctor let us know how rewarding it was to see patients who were able to break the bond of addiction and how their children had a renewed sense of pride in their parents because of their efforts.

“Not all my patients stayed sober … but those who have are having ripple effects on the community that I can observe,” she wrote. “Their children have new school clothes because money is not being spent on opiates. I see [increased] job attendance and a sense of personal value. The process of sobriety and the connection over time is a light in my day.”

Medication-assisted treatment

Blue Cross has been working closely with the Michigan Opioid Collaborative to increase the number of primary care physicians with medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, waiver training. MOC is a Michigan Medicine initiative that was formed in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

“With the support of BCBSM and Michigan Opioid Collaborative, the providers of Michigan are addressing the opioid abuse crisis head-on by completing training in medication-assisted treatment, expanding the outreach for these much-needed services across the state,” said Dr. Gretchen Goltz, medical director, Provider Engagement at Blue Cross. “With over 700 providers receiving training and expanding to the OB/Gyn community, we hope to impact the rising rate of substance use disorder and improve well-being across the entire population.”

Thanks to MOC’s support, medication-assisted treatment — considered the gold standard for substance use training — has been expanded into 25 counties throughout the state that previously didn’t have any MAT providers. This has significantly expanded access to patients in need of treatment and reduced the need to drive long distances to receive necessary services.

“In her email to Blue Cross, the Traverse City doctor continued: “I am a generalist and I spend only a small fraction of my time on opiate care, but if we all spent a fraction of our time, then we could make a difference in the community.The support through the Opioid Collaborative is literally unbelievable. I get same-day info on dosing, questions, how to adjust for surgery, anything I need. I do not have to feel scared about doing something new and creating risk.”

More about MOC

• MOC offers multiple training options to suit providers’ needs, from comprehensive full-day training sessions to condensed training sessions, along with ongoing consultation to help support treatment after training.
• Behavioral health consultants reach out to providers and physician organizations to help encourage them to provide MAT with MOC support. Several toolkits are distributed to providers as resources.
• Monthly webinars are offered on substance use disorder-related topics for ongoing education.

For more information, visit the MOC website at michiganopioidcollaborative.org.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.