MATTERS in New York ACEP Epic Newsletter

Interviewees

MATTERS serves as a collection of resources to support clinicians and community-based partners in addressing substance use disorder. Its rapid referral platform efficiently connects people to medication for addiction treatment (MAT) and an outpatient treatment organization of their choice for follow-up. Individuals who are referred through the program can choose from over 2,500 weekly appointment slots provided by over 250 unique treatment organizations across the referral network. Uninsured patients are automatically issued a medication voucher to cover the cost of up to 14 days of any combination buprenorphine/naloxone prescription. Everyone referred through MATTERS is offered a free, round-trip ride for their first follow-up appointment and can additionally opt-in to be linked to a peer support agency for follow-up. All of this happens in less than 5 minutes and requires zero phone calls.

In the New York ACEP newsletter, Dr. Lynch mentions that MATTERS is “especially relevant to EM practice as emergency departments (ED) are typically the ‘first line of defense’ for individuals with OUD who present in acute withdrawal/post-overdose.” This program started as a pilot project out of Buffalo, New York and has since expanded to various other settings including inpatient units, telemedicine agencies, correctional facilities, and others. MATTERS was designed as a one-stop solution to link individuals with substance use disorder to treatment from any setting at any time.

During the interview, the MATTERS team also addressed health inequities relating to opioid and substance use disorders. For example, the MATTERS team highlights that “…national rates of opioid overdose deaths decreased in the U.S.; however, this is mainly applicable to Non-Hispanic White populations. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are affected by opioid and substance use disorders at a disproportionately higher rate compared to their white counterparts”. In order to address these health inequities, MATTERS has developed a standardized protocol which includes a suggested bridge prescription of 14 days to ensure patients stay connected to life-saving MAT.

The MATTERS program also focuses on shifting the way emergency physicians – and communities at large – talk about substance use disorder (SUD). MATTERS defines opioid use disorder as a chronic, life-threatening disease that typically requires medication for treatment. In the New York ACEP article, Dr. Lynch mentions that many clinicians still refer to SUD as “abuse”, which can feel stigmatizing for many people. MATTERS works to address the stigma that people with SUD face by changing the way we talk about the condition and by reducing barriers to resources that help patients succeed in treatment.

The MATTERS team invites clinicians to reach out to learn more about our program. MATTERS serves as a replicable, scalable solution to addressing SUD in various communities across the United States. Through collaboration with the University at Buffalo and UBMD Emergency Medicine, MATTERS has published various research articles outlining the lessons learned in expanding this program across New York State and into neighboring regions. Access our recent publications here, or contact us to learn more about MATTERS.