SelectHealth has signed on with Pear Therapeutics to cover its reSET-O digital tool for opioid use disorder.
The non-profit insurer, a subsidiary of Intermountain Healthcare, will make the prescription digital therapeutic available as a covered benefit for those with OUD among its more than 1 million members in Utah, Idaho and Nevada, according to a press release. The therapeutic was Pear's second product and the first to receive breakthrough designation from the Food and Drug Administration.
The tool offers a new way to address opioid order, which is a significant problem in Utah, according to the announcement. In the state, 10 adults die each week from drug overdoses, and eight of those are related to opioids, with prescription opioids being a problem in Utah.
“Both organizations are focused on keeping people healthy and providing high-value care that is accessible throughout the communities that we serve,” said H. Eric Cannon, Chief Pharmacy Benefits Officer at SelectHealth, in the release. “This move to provide access is vital to the treatment of opioid use disorder and highlights another example of our commitment to clinical programs that improve outcomes and embrace innovation.”
The Biden administration's recently released National Drug Control Strategy outlines ways to address drug addiction and does suggest that experts use digital therapeutics on the market when appropriate.
Pear said that reSET-O has been studied in a randomized clinical trial and measured in real-world use, with peer-reviewed data showing improved outcomes and decreased health utilization for patients using the platform.
“With the opioid epidemic impacting more people than ever across the country, we applaud SelectHealth for its leadership in being the first in the state of Utah to provide patients seeking recovery coverage of innovative FDA-authorized treatment delivered through their mobile devices when and where they need it most,” said Julia Strandberg., Chief Commercial Officer at Pear Therapeutics. “Together, we can help improve access to safe and effective treatment options for those suffering from addiction.”