Medical Economics April 5, 2021
Lisa Eramo, MA

When primary care physician Dr. Karen Smith noticed that opioid abuse rates were skyrocketing in her community of Raeford, North Carolina, she decided to do something about it: She partnered with a behavioral health agency to roll out a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program within the four walls of her practice.

Here’s how it worked: Smith screened patients for opioid abuse during the intake process. When she identified patients who could benefit from MAT, she used a warm handoff to connect them with a psychiatrist who could treat them on-site. This immediate access was a significant benefit for patients in an impoverished community where travel wasn’t easy.

Although Smith could have charged rent for the office space the psychiatrist used, she...

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