Battling the opioid epidemic: A roundup of news and information

Provider directories identify physicians offering medication-assisted treatment
Physicians specializing in addiction medicine and other practitioners who participate with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or Blue Care Network and treat members struggling with substance use disorders are identified in our Find a Doctor search feature on bcbsm.com. From the homepage of Find a Doctor, in the Search for doctors, hospitals and clinics by name or specialty field, members can enter Suboxone Treatment for Opiate Addiction to locate providers who are eligible to prescribe medication containing buprenorphine.

Drug Take Back Day scheduled for April 27
The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is scheduled for April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For details, see the article in this month’s issue.

Foundation grant helps pregnant mothers fight addiction
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation provided grant funding support for a program that helps expectant mothers who are battling substance use disorder. The GREAT MOMS program, which stands for Grand Rapids Encompassing Addiction Treatment with Maternal Obstetric Management, offers support to pregnant women by helping them navigate their prenatal appointments and get medication to treat substance use disorder. The program is currently only available in the West Michigan area, but we’re looking at expanding it to other locations in the future. For more details about the current program, see the MI Blues Perspectives blog.