Expanding access to medication treatment for opioid use disorders: Findings from the Washington State hub and spoke effort

BACKGROUND

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a leading cause of preventable death and injury nationwide. Efforts to increase the use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are needed. In 2017, Washington State implemented a Hub and Spoke (HS) model of care with the primary goal of expanding access to MOUD. We examined changes in MOUD utilization among Washington State Medicaid beneficiaries before and after HS implementation.

METHODS

We used Medicaid claims data to examine longitudinal changes in MOUD use for beneficiaries with OUD. We conducted a comparative interrupted time series analysis to examine the association between HS policy implementation and rates of MOUD utilization, overall and by type of medication.

RESULTS

Between 2016 and 2019, a period of increasing OUD prevalence, rates of MOUD utilization among Washington Medicaid beneficiaries increased overall from 39.7 to 50.5. Following HS implementation, rates of MOUD use grew at a significantly greater rate in the HS cohort than in the non-HS cohort (β=0.54, SE=0.02, p< 0.0001, 95% CI 0.49, 0.59). Analyses by medication type show that this rate increase was primarily due to buprenorphine use (β= 0.61, SE= 0.02, p< 0.0001, 95% CI 0.57, 0.65).

CONCLUSION

Improved systems of care are needed to make MOUD accessible to all patients in need. The Washington HS model is one strategy that may facilitate and expand MOUD use, particularly buprenorphine. Over the study period, Washington State saw increased use of buprenorphine, which was an emphasis of their HS model.

A systematic scoping review of undergraduate nursing hub-and-spoke placement models

BACKGROUND

While nursing education has been forecast to continue to grow, placement capacity is now the key factor precluding growth in supply.

AIMS

To provide a comprehensive understanding of hub-and-spoke placements and their ability to increase placement capacity.

METHOD

A systematic scoping review and narrative synthesis were used (Arksey and O'Malley, 2005). PRISMA checklist and ENTREQ reporting guidelines were followed.

FINDINGS

The search returned 418 results. After a first and second screen 11 papers were included. Results suggest that hub-and-spoke models were generally evaluated favourably by nursing students, with a range of benefits reported. However, many of the studies included in the review were small and of low quality.

CONCLUSION

Given the exponential increase in applications to study nursing, hub-and-spoke placements appear to have the potential to better meet these increased demands, while also providing a number of benefits.

Implementation of a Hub-and-Spoke Partnership for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in a Medicaid Nonexpansion State

Hub-and-spoke (H&S) partnerships for managing opioid use disorder vary by U.S. state. This column provides the first description of the development of an H&S partnership in Tennessee, a Medicaid nonexpansion state. Medicaid expansion allows states to fund evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and community-based psychosocial interventions. In an H&S model in a Medicaid nonexpansion context, federal grant support must fund not only treatment itself but also the creation and maintenance of parallel billing and documentation processes for various partners, reducing the funds available for patient care.

Head injury care in a low- and middle-income country tertiary trauma center: epidemiology, systemic lacunae, and possible leads

BACKGROUND

Although head injury (HI) from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) heavily contributes to the global disease burden, studies are disproportionately less from this part of the world. Knowing the different epidemiological characteristics from high-income nations can target appropriate prevention strategies. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinico-epidemiological data of HI patients, focusing on the existing challenges with possible solutions from a developing nation's perspective.

METHODS

This is a prospective, registry-based, observational study of HI in an Indian tertiary trauma-care center over 4 years. Various clinico-epidemiological parameters, risk factors, and imaging spectrum were analyzed in a multivariate model to identify the challenges faced by LMIC and discuss pragmatic solutions.

RESULTS

The study included a large-volume cohort of 14,888 patients. Notably, half of these patients belonged to mild HI, despite most were referred (90.3%) cases. Only one-third (30.8%) had severe HI. Less than a third reached us within 6 h of injury. Road traffic accidents (RTA) accounted for most injuries (61.1%), especially in the young (70.9%). Higher age, males, RTA, helmet non-usage, drunken driving, systemic injuries, and specific imaging features had an independent association with injury severity.

CONCLUSIONS

The study represents the much-needed, large-volume, epidemiological profile of HI from an LMIC, highlighting the suboptimal utilization of peripheral healthcare systems. Strengthening and integrating these facilities with the tertiary centers in a hub and enhanced spoke model, task sharing design, and efficient back-referrals promise effective neurotrauma care while avoiding overburden in the tertiary centers. Better implementation of road safety laws also has the potential to reduce the burden of HI.

The COVID-19 challenge to cardiac electrophysiologists: optimizing resources at a referral center

Purpose

To describe how a referral center for cardiac electrophysiology (EP) rapidly changed to comply with the ongoing COVID-19 healthcare emergency.

Methods

We present retrospective data about the modification of daily activities at our EP unit, following the pandemic outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Italy. In particular, in the context of a pre-existing “hub-and-spoke” network, we describe how procedure types and volumes have changed in the last 3 months.

Results

Since our institution was selected as a COVID-19 referral center, the entire in-hospital activity was reorganized to assist more than 1000 COVID-positive cases. Only urgent EP procedures, including ventricular tachycardia ablation and extraction of infected devices, were both maintained and optimized to meet the needs of external hospitals. In addition, most of the non-urgent EP procedures were postponed. Finally, following prompt internal reorganization, both outpatient clinics and on-call services underwent significant modification, by integrating telemedicine support whenever applicable.

Conclusion

We presented the fast reorganization of an EP referral center during the ongoing COVID-19 healthcare emergency. Our hub-and-spoke model may be useful for other centers, aiming at a cost-effective management of resources in the context of a global crisis.

Patient perceptions of treatment with medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in the Vermont hub-and-spoke system

In 2013, Vermont leaders implemented the "hub-and-spoke" (H & S) system to increase access to medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD). "Hubs" are licensed specialty opioid treatment programs (OTPs) with the authority to dispense buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone. "Spokes" are primary care practices that provide office-based opioid treatment, primarily with buprenorphine/naloxone. This report describes the qualitative component of an evaluation of the H&S system, conducted in 2016. The qualitative data collection assessed patient perspectives about the positive and negative aspects of treatment in the H & S system. The data collected included 80 responses to five open-ended questions and 24 in-depth interviews. Five open-ended questions were completed with hub (n = 40) and spoke (n = 40) participants. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with different hub (n =12) and spoke (n =12) participants. Findings from both data collection approaches suggest positive perceptions about treatment overall by patients treated in both settings. Participants treated in spokes reported a positive treatment environment, minimal stigma, and few obstacles to treatment and a strong positive relationship with their prescriber. Hub patients valued the MOUD and expressed gratitude for having access to MOUD, but reported the treatment environment was somewhat challenging, with long lines and drug talk in the clinic, high staff turnover and "cookie cutter" treatment. There appear to be some differences in patient perceptions of MOUD treatment between patients treated in primary care settings and specialized OTP settings.

Preliminary results of the evaluation of the California Hub and Spoke Program

In August 2017, California launched the Hub and Spoke Program to address the growing number of opioid overdose deaths in the state. The program connects opioid treatment programs ("hubs") with office based opioid treatment settings, like primary care clinics ("spokes") to build a network of treatment expertise and referral resources. A key objective of this program is to expand access to medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD), with a particular focus on getting more buprenorphine into spokes. This article describes the preliminary results of the evaluation of the California Hub and Spoke program. Using a mixed methods approach, this portion of the evaluation measures changes in numbers of MOUD patients and providers, and barriers and facilitators to implementation. Findings reveal that, in the first 15 months of the program, 3480 new patients started buprenorphine in 118 spokes, increasing treatment initiations by 94.7% over baseline. The number of waivered spoke providers also increased 52.4% to 268. Although these data demonstrate promising growth in the network, challenges to expanding treatment access remain. Provider activity was among the most notable. Despite growth in the number of spoke providers with waivers to prescribe buprenorphine, only 68.7% (n = 184) were actively prescribing to patients. A survey of providers found that those who were not yet using their waivers lacked the confidence and mentorship they needed to prescribe. Provider knowledge and attitudes toward MOUD, fear of legal consequences, and limited patient outreach were also contributing factors. Recommendations for strengthening Hub and Spoke program implementation include facilitating mentor linkage for prescribers, expanding the support offered to spoke providers, and offering additional training and technical assistance aimed at provider stigma. Efforts to address these recommendations are described in a companion paper (Miele et al., under review).

The use of teleradiology for triaging of maxillofacial trauma

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess and discuss our experience with a teleradiology technique applied to facial trauma patients referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgery hub center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All trauma patients with maxillofacial fractures from the hospitals of Vercelli, Biella, Borgosesia, Borgomanero, Verbania, and Domodossola who were referred between July 2014 and September 2018 to the hub maxillofacial center of Novara were reviewed. The following data were recorded for each patient: sex, age, referral hospital, etiology, etiology mechanisms, site of facial fractures, date of injury, indications for surgery according to teleradiology consultation, indications for surgery following clinical maxillofacial assessment, date of eventual surgery, timing of surgery from trauma, type of surgical intervention.

RESULTS

A total of 467 patients with a total of 605 fractures were triaged and managed by the Tempore telemedicine system. The most frequent cause of maxillofacial injury was fall. The most frequently observed fracture involved the zygoma. Following remote computed tomography assessment, surgical indications were suggested in 68 patients; 223 patients were not considered suitable candidates for surgery; and 176 patients needed a clinical assessment for the establishment of definitive eventual indications for surgery. Following clinical assessment, the absence and presence of surgical indications was confirmed in all 223 and 68 patients, respectively. Within the 176 patients with "possible" surgical indications, only 27 patients were referred for surgery.

CONCLUSION

Teleradiology may be helpful for an appropriate triaging of trauma patients from peripheral hospitals for the correct referral to a maxillofacial trauma hub center.

Assessment of medication for opioid use disorder as delivered within the Vermont hub and spoke system

Opioid overdose deaths in the United States have risen dramatically in the past decade. In response to this public health crisis, Vermont created an innovative system called the "hub-and-spoke" (H & S) system, initiated in January 2013. The H & S system has 7 regional "hubs" that offer methadone and buprenorphine, as well as intensive support, and 77 local "spokes" (primary care settings) that offer buprenorphine (and naltrexone to a much lesser extent). Questionnaires were administered to 80 participants in the H & S system (stratified by geographic region, treatment site, and gender) and 20 participants with opioid use disorder not currently in treatment. Data included demographics, drug and alcohol use; opioid use; injection use; education/employment; criminal justice involvement; family and relationship functioning; health and healthcare utilization; multiple areas of mental health functioning; opioid overdose; satisfaction with life areas; stigma; and perceived treatment effectiveness. In-treatment group participants reported use and functioning for the 90 days prior to the date of the interview (T₂) and, retrospectively, a comparable 90-day period prior to treatment entry (T₁). Out-of-treatment group participants were queried about functioning at the time of the interview (T₂) and 12 months earlier (T₁). Individuals not in treatment showed no meaningful changes in any domain from T₁ to T₂. Conversely, participants currently in treatment in the H & S system showed large reductions in substance use, overdoses, emergency department visits, police contacts, and family conflict, and improvements in mood and satisfaction with all areas of life, except work/school participation. Additionally, 85% of in-treatment participants reported 90-day abstinence from opioid use compared to 0% of out-of-treatment participants at T₂. These findings illustrate that medication for opioid use disorders, as delivered in the H & S system in Vermont, is highly effective for reducing opioid use and overdose and improving functioning in many life domains.

Does pegvisomant treatment expertise improve control of resistant acromegaly? The Italian ACROSTUDY experience

OBJECTIVE

GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant is indicated for treatment of patients with resistant acromegaly. We compared safety and treatment outcomes of pegvisomant therapy in patients managed by Italian centers enrolling less or more than 15 cases in ACROSTUDY, a safety surveillance study of long-term pegvisomant treatment of patients with acromegaly. A noninterventional safety surveillance study in which safety and treatment outcomes of pegvisomant were evaluated on the basis of data collected during a 7-year period.

METHODS

A total of 204 acromegaly patients treated by seven centers enrolling 16-49 patients each (group A) and 137 subjects by 18 centers following 3-14 cases ( group B).

RESULTS

Patients of group A and B were treated for 4.4 ± 2.7 and 4.2 ± 2.2 years, respectively. IGF-1 ULN normalized in 64.4 % (n = 56) and 54.4 % (n = 31) in group A and B, respectively, after 1-year treatment, and in 57.3 % (n = 106) and 72.5 % (n = 87) at last visit. Starting doses were significantly higher in group A. They were progressively increased during treatment in both groups, but were higher in uncontrolled patients than in controlled ones only in group A. Reported adverse events were more frequent, and the prevalence of patients with adverse events was higher in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of this original study approach, we could speculate that in the centers in which more patients are treated with pegvisomant, less adverse events are reported, but the long-term effectiveness is lower than in centers with less cases, perhaps because of an inadequate patient's selection.