SBIRT – a toolA Preventive Approach to Address Youth Substance Use

Presented by Dawn A. Randolph, MPAPublic Policy Consultant, Georgia Council on Substance Abusewww.gasubstanceabuse.org

Presented to the House Study Committee on Childrens Mental Health - HR 641Chaired by Representative Katie Dempsey

Incident of Substance Abuse DisordersThe Need

“Untreated” Abuse/Dependent ~ 25 million = 8%

“Harmful Users”~60,000,000

Abstinent & Non-Problem Users ~ 83%2008 National Survey on Drug Use & Health

US Population = 309,800,000

The Need - PreventionA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

The Need: Every kid and teenager in Georgia deserves a shot at a great future. Too often, that future is put in jeopardy when we miss opportunities to identify and treat early alcohol and drug misuse.

• One in 7 (40 million) Americans over the age of 12 have a substance use disorder. That’s more than have heart conditions (27 million), diabetes (26 million) and cancer (19 million).

• One-third of all inpatient hospital costs are linked to addiction and risky substance use.

• 9 out of 10 people with addiction started using substances before they turned 18.

• People with drug dependence die an average of 22.5 years sooner than those without a diagnosis.

The Need – Substances impacts young brainsYoung brains are vulnerable – prevention and early intervention is key

90% of adult Americans with a substance use disorder began smoking, drinking or using other drugs before they were 18 and half before they were 15.

• Nearly one out of every five high school students in Georgia reported drinking more than just a few sips of alcohol before they were 13. Adults should begin talking to kids about drugs and alcohol when they start using them, not years down the line.

• Heroin use among teens and young adults in Georgia is on the rise. We need to have thoughtful, honest conversations with teens and young adults to prevent heroin addictions and deaths.

The Need:The Need

The Need – Joining togetherGCSA & GHF Team-up

What We Are Doing: Georgians for a Healthy Future and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse have joined together to make sure that substance abuse prevention services are widely available to kids, teens and young adults in our state

• We have brought together a public health approach uniting young people, families, communities and professionals to develop an implement a comprehensive strategy.

• We are addressing and breaking down barriers to both celebrate the good things youth are doing while providing support to those who are engaging in risky behavior.

• Public Health, Medicaid and schools are important entrees in the provider network to reaching all kids.

How We Do ItA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

SBIRTMulti-Dimensional Screening

Substance Abuse SeverityDepressionAnxietyADHDSchoolPeersLegal Source: Ken Winters, Ph.D., Dept of Psychiatry, Univ of Minnesota, July 17, 2014

How We Do ItA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

Source: Ken Winters, Ph.D., Dept of Psychiatry, Univ of Minnesota, July 17, 2014

SBIRTCommon elements of Brief Intervention

Negotiated goals

Motivational interviewing

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

How We Do ItA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

Source: Ken Winters, Ph.D., Dept of Psychiatry, Univ of Minnesota, July 17, 2014

SBIRTReferral to Treatment

Favorable outcome

Minimal/no change

Problem worsens

Multi-screen red flags

Support Recovery

Conduct booster or refer to more services

Refer to more services

Refer more assessment

How We Do ItA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

How We Do ItA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

13 years of training projects>2,600 students/residents & 118 faculty in medicine,

nursing and PA programs across Georgia & nearby states

Follow-up interviews indicate these trainees use SBI after graduation

Opportunities to accelerate use of this important preventive service by “turning on” and funding SBIRT codes

Georgia WorkforcePoised for SBIRT Dissemination

How We Do ItA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

Source: Georgia Basics Final Report

SBIRT Patients Decreased Substance Use Baseline to 6-month Follow-up

How We Do ItA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

Source: Georgia Basics Final Report

Greater Decreases in Binge Drinking for SBIRT vs. Control Patients

How We Do ItA Public Health Approach to Prevent Problem Substance Use

Source: Georgia Basics Final Report

Mental Health Improvements in Quality of Life

Our Vision – Let’s Do This!Healthy Future for All

Now that you know what SBIRT is, let’s examine how it helps.

Screening is a key step in preventing young people from misusing drugs and alcohol. Identifying young people who use alcohol, drugs or both is a very important first step in preventing their misuse. In fact, studies show simply asking young people about drugs and alcohol can lead to positive behavioral change. Brief Interventions – just a few minutes of counseling – reduce alcohol problems in people 18 and older. Studies demonstrate that these short counseling sessions, conducted in all types of settings from emergency departments, to trauma centers, to doctor’s offices, cut the number of drinks consumed.

Our Vision – Let’s Do This!Healthy Future for All

Now that you know what SBIRT is, let’s examine how it helps.

In young people, brief interventions reduce alcohol misuse.There is a growing body of research supporting the use of brief interventions in schools, primary care offices and hospital emergency departments to address alcohol use among young people.

Young people respond to counseling by drinking less often and reducing the number of drinks consumed at one time. Brief interventions help college students cut back their drinking by an average of six drinks per week. Brief interventions also ease alcohol-related consequences. In one study of teens ages 14-18, brief counseling led to a 30 percent reduction in alcohol consequences, such as skipping school or fighting with friends and family because of alcohol.

Our Vision – Let’s Do This!Healthy Future for All

Now that you know what SBIRT is, let’s examine how it helps.

Brief interventions can help curb drug use among young people.Recent studies show brief interventions delivered in a primary care office, emergency department, or school setting reduce marijuana use among adolescents. In one study, short counseling sessions led young people ages 14-21 to use marijuana four fewer days per month.

SBIRT Saves Lives and Cuts CostsStudy after study proves that for every dollar invested into substance abuse treatment $4 is saved in healthcare related costs and $7 in law enforcement and criminal justice costs.

Our Vision – Let’s Fund ItPrevention & Early Intervention = Healthy Futures

Policy Recommendation – encourage and incentivize greater use of SBIRT

Activate Medicaid Codes for SBIRT• More than half of Georgia’s youth are enrolled in

Medicaid & PeachCare• SBIRT reimbursement codes exist for Medicare, most

private insurance plans and Medicaid• Medicaid Codes must be active for providers to utilize

for billingGeorgia is only one of 12 states whose Medicaid Codes are not active - See map on Page 15 of Policy Brief.

Our Vision – Let’s Fund ItPrevention & Early Intervention = Healthy Futures

Policy Recommendation – Steps to SBIRT go live

Step 1 – Identify Billing Codes CPT Codes

99408 in 15-30 minute increments for screening & brief intervention

99409 30 minutes or greater for screening & brief interventionSource: SAMHSA http://www.samhsa.gov/sbirt/coding-reimbursement

Step 2 – Define providers Authorize the set of providers listed under Medicare guidelines

to bill for SBIRT services in Medicaid Plan, with a view toward including additional providers in the future.

Our Vision – Let’s Support ItPrevention & Early Intervention = Healthy Futures

Policy Recommendation – Steps to SBIRT go live

Step 3 – Define delivery settings Authorize SBIRT services in emergency departments, primary

care offices and school settings.This is where the kids are…

Step 4 – Define age to begin screening Provide SBIRT coverage for individuals age 12 and older.

This is when data show kids start using

Thank YOU!A Preventive Approach to Address Youth Substance Use