This is archived content, for historical reference only.

CHCF, in partnership with Smart Care California, is creating a resource catalog of individuals, organizations, and firms interested in supporting health plan opioid safety initiatives and medication-assisted treatment integration in primary care and other settings. This online resource catalog will be shared with health plans and delivery systems. CHCF is not providing funding to support technical assistance and consulting engagements.

Background

Smart Care California (SCC) is a partnership of three public health care purchasers — Medi-Cal, CalPERS, and Covered California — that cover 40% of California residents. Quarterly meetings bring executive leaders from purchasers, plans, and provider groups together to discuss how to address the opioid epidemic, lower c-section rates, and improve lower back pain care.

As part of its opioid safety work, SCC endorsed CHCF’s two health plan papers. The first, Changing Course, reviews the research and outcomes from health plan opioid safety best practices, including three case studies, and the second, Why Health Plans Should Go to the “MAT” in the Fight Against Opioid Addiction, makes the case for health plans to improve access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction. Based on these two papers, SCC created a purchaser/plan checklist of best practices and surveyed plans to ensure that implementation progressed. (See Smart Care California for survey results.)

While SCC has clearly documented what to do, plan leaders have articulated a need for help with how to do it. To that end, CHCF, in partnership with SCC, is creating this opioid safety resource catalog. For details, see the complete request for applications under Related Materials.

Opioid Safety Resource Catalog

The resource catalog will include three topics. Applicants may respond to one or more of the following:

1. Consultation and technical assistance to health plans to support plan-wide opioid safety initiatives
2. Outreach, education, and/or academic detailing for outlier prescribers — providing education to prescribers on behalf of a health plan or delivery system, or training staff to provide the same
3. Technical assistance and training for provider systems implementing medication-assisted treatment programs in primary care and other settings

Consultants interested in applying for any of the above opportunities should review the request for applications document below.

Email applications to Challen Clarke. Please include “Opioid Safety Resource Catalog Application” in the subject line. Preferred electronic format for documents is Microsoft Word. Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis.

CHCF conducted an informational webinar on February 5 for interested applicants. A document addressing questions posed in the webinar is attached below. You may also view the recorded webinar: