Michigan providers continue to take action to fight the opioid epidemic

Across the country, the opioid epidemic continues to rage on, leaving behind a trail of destruction. In 2022, opioids were involved in over 42,000 deaths across the United States. Nationally, over 80% of all overdose deaths involved at least one opioid.

Michigan has seen 2,998 deaths caused by overdose. There were 14,191 non-fatal overdose emergency department visits in Michigan in 2022 alone.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan supports our health care providers in a wide variety of efforts aimed at both prevention and treatment to address the ongoing opioid epidemic. Blue Cross is committed to addressing gaps in access to treatment for patients with opioid use disorder. The Physician Group Incentive Program’s medication-assisted treatment initiative is intended to expand access to MAT through training additional providers, encouraging screening and initiation of treatment, and expanding the knowledge and skills of the care teams to enable support for the patients and the office-based treatment process.

Over the past four years, the MAT initiative has seen great success due to the efforts within the provider community. Since its launch, there has been a 239% increase in MAT providers across the state. Furthermore, 70 counties in Michigan now have at least one MAT provider, 30 of which had no treatment providers prior to the initiative.

We are focused on helping health care providers in their care for patients struggling with opioid use disorder. As part of that commitment, the physician organization and provider community will continue to be eligible for incentives, which encourage expanding access to patients seeking treatment.

Blue Cross is continuing its partnership with the Michigan Overdose Prevention Engagement Network for all providers interested in prevention or treatment for opioid use disorder. While a waiver is no longer required if the provider is treating less than 30 patients at a given time, OPEN provides training for providers who are new to offering medication-assisted treatment. Thise support includes introductory training on treating patients with buprenorphine and naltrexone. OPEN also offers office materials that can be branded with PO or practice name and logos at no cost, office flow support, documentation support and office hours for complex cases, all aimed at helping providers get started in offering treatment.

For more information related to the MAT initiatives, contact your physician organization.

For more information on training, documentation or consultation services, visit Michigan OPEN (michigan-open.org).*

*Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.

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