In August, 2016, CODAC was named Rhode Island’s first certified Center of Excellence (COE) for the treatment of opioid dependence. This designation is awarded to agencies that meet or exceed certification standards established by the Governor’s Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force, the Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), and the RI Department of Health. COEs utilize evidence-based practices for providing treatment to and coordinating care for individuals with moderate to severe Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and ensure timely access to Medication Assisted Treatment. All of CODAC’s seven Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) have received this designation.
Centers of Excellence serve as a resource to community providers, including PCPs, to help them gain practical experience in the assessment and/or treatment of opioid use disorders. The COE model was developed in response to the nationwide heroin and opioid overdose crisis as a tool to facilitate and expedite the initiation of assessment and treatment services—a key element in the prevention of overdose mortalities. In 2016, Rhode Island was one of the first two states to adopt the COE program. Among the anticipated outcomes is an approximately 30% reduction in the number of deaths from overdose over three years.
In addition to meeting benchmarks for the highest standards of care, COE providers must be able to offer access to treatment within 24 hours of first contact and must be approved to offer at least two of the three FDA approved medications for the treatment of opioid dependence: methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone™), oral naltrexone, and depot-naltrexone (Vivitrol™). CODAC is the only program/service in RI approved to provide all three medications.
CODAC’s COEs are designed to provide patients with expedited access to assessment and diagnostic services designed to identify and stabilize them on the most appropriate medication. CODAC’s COE care teams assist in developing both a short- and long-term recovery plan that include a wide array of wraparound services and care coordination to support ongoing recovery. Recovery support may include services provided by CODAC, as well as our community partners. These resources include facilitating connections to and coordinating with primary care, specialty physicians, community practices, and other care providers; offering referrals for specialized healthcare needs; helping making make connections with recovery programs that provide housing, vocational training, transportation, education, legal support, and mental health services.
Medication stabilization and the development of a comprehensive recovery plan are critical, initial goals for patients. However, once stabilized and other clinical needs are identified and addressed, patients have the option to continue with CODAC, to be transferred to another Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) or a community physician. Patients who choose to use a community provider for medication management may continue to receive clinical services at CODAC. The combination of prescribed, managed medication and regular clinical contact is considered best practice* and is most likely to result in long-term recovery.
By making treatment more accessible, available and effective, CODAC’s six COEs offer expedited access to intensive treatment services. By identifying and stabilizing patients with OUD on the most appropriate medication and by creating a realistic and sustainable recovery plan, COEs hold the promise of meeting Rhode Island’s goal of reducing death from opioid overdose by 30% over three years.
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