The Peterson Health Technology Institute (PHTI) is set to begin evaluating virtual care programs for opioid use disorder (OUD), examining clinical effectiveness and economic effects.
The goal, according to the PHTI, is to offer greater detail to employers, health plans and providers on whether they should be adopting these technologies as well as the best way to do so to ensure they're generating better outcomes, lowering total cost of care and improving access.
The PHTI noted in a press release that there are an estimated 5.4 million adults in the U.S. with OUD, and OUD accounts for three-quarters of drug overdoses each year. Opioid use leads to 1,560 overdose deaths each week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The healthcare system spends $90 billion per year to combat opioid addiction, per data from the National Institutes of Health.
Digital programs offer a critical avenue for people with OUD to access critical care, the PHTI said. Some may connect them with licensed providers to prescribe controlled medications for recovery, while others track medication adherence, progress and offer peer-to-peer support.
“Virtual solutions are a promising way to expand access to essential care for those living with opioid use disorder,” said Caroline Pearson, executive director of the PHTI, in the press release. “By connecting patients to providers, supporting medication adherence, tracking recovery progress, and providing peer support, these solutions have the potential to reach people experiencing addiction who might not otherwise initiate and sustain treatment.”
The PHTI's program to evaluate virtual opioid use treatment options follows previous efforts to analyze virtual care for anxiety and depression. It's also examined digital diabetes care management tools, musculoskeletal care options and virtual hypertension management programs.