SUPPORT for ME: Key Stakeholder Interview Summary

Authors

Katie Rosingana BA, University of Southern Maine, Catherine Cutler InstituteFollow
Mary Lindsey Smith PhD, University of Southern Maine, Catherine Cutler InstituteFollow
Karen Pearson MLIS, MA, University of Southern Maine, Catherine Cutler InstituteFollow
Evelyn Ali BS, University of Southern Maine, Catherine Cutler InstituteFollow
Tyler Egeland BA, University of Southern Maine, Catherine Cutler InstituteFollow
Mark Richards BS, University of Southern Maine, Catherine Cutler InstituteFollow

Document Type

Issue Brief

Publication Date

5-2021

Abstract

This summary feedback report is organized to inform the Office of MaineCare Services goal of addressing barriers and finding new and/or improved ways to increase capacity in Maine for people who seek treatment and recovery services for substance use disorder. Interview protocols were designed to assess critical domains of interest for the state, which include: current and potential provider capacity, access to care & service delivery provider willingness, and financial/ administrative policies.

Key Highlights from the stakeholder interviews indicated that:

• While there have been improvements in the integration of care for persons with behavioral health (BH) diagnoses, this integration has not fully synced with substance use disorder (SUD) services in Maine; better integration of BH and SUD is needed.
• Behavioral Health Homes and Opioid Health Homes are regarded as excellent models of care, and many key stakeholders would like to see this model of care expand for all members with a diagnosis of SUD.
• Low reimbursement rates for some SUD services including outpatient therapy, residential treatment, medically supervised withdrawal services and intensive outpatient treatment programs affect the quality of workforce, available services, and hinders capacity building efforts.
• Stigma exists regarding serving the population with SUD, at all levels- from state policymakers, to providers, and to the community.
• Maine lacks what some consider as basic SUD service options available elsewhere (e.g., variety of medication assisted-withdrawal services, plus intermediate levels of care).

For more information, please contact M. Lindsey Smith, PhD, at m.lindsey.smith@maine.edu

Comments

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,144,225 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Recommended Citation

Rosingana K, Smith ML, Pearson K, Ali E, Egeland T, Richards M. SUPPORT for ME: Key stakeholder interview summary. University of Southern Maine, Cutler Institute;2021 May.