Explanation
BACKGROUND: In order to effectively provide Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), an evidenced-based practice that combines pharmacological interventions with substance abuse counseling and social support, Columbus Public Health (CPH) Addiction Services (ADS) Program is in need of specialized Advanced Practice Nurse and Physician services. This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into a contract with the Ohio State University Hospitals (OSU), in the amount of $50,000.00, for the period December 1, 2018 through November 30, 2019. The contract compliance number is 311340739. This contractor is a non profit organization and is exempt from certification.
“Opioid overdoses cause one death every 20 minutes. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), a combination of psychosocial therapy and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medication, is the most effective intervention to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and is more effective than either behavioral interventions or medication alone. MAT significantly reduces illicit opioid use compared with nondrug approaches, and increased access to these therapies can reduce overdose fatalities. However, MAT is often unavailable to those in need of it because of inadequate funding for treatment programs and a lack of qualified providers who can deliver these therapies.” Pew Charitable Trust November 2016.
Over the last several years it has become evident that opioid use disorder clients treated in the CPH ADS program have had difficulty in accessing affordable and reliable medication-assisted treatment. Additionally, many of the clients cite transportation as a concern to accessing MAT services. These clients have expressed interest in receiving MAT services at the CPH ADS program as a compliment to the existing services they are receiving.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide MAT services for patients at Columbus Public Health Addiction Services Program.
FISCAL IMPACT: $50,000.0...
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