Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and TeleMAT Standards
What is TeleMAT?
“Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of substance use disorders. Research shows that a combination of medication and therapy can successfully treat these disorders, and for some people struggling with addiction, MAT can help sustain recovery. Learn about many of the substance use disorders that MAT is designed to address.
MAT is primarily used for the treatment of addiction to opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relievers that contain opiates. The prescribed medication operates to normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids, relieve physiological cravings, and normalize body functions without the negative effects of the abused drug. Medications used in MAT are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and MAT programs are clinically driven and tailored to meet each patient’s needs. Combining medications used in MAT with anxiety treatment medications can be fatal. Types of anxiety treatment medications include derivatives of Benzodiazepine, such as Xanax or valium.“*
Recent Additions
- FAQs for Treating Opioid Use Disorder via Telehealth Tips for Primary Care Providers
- Use of Telephone Evaluations to Initiate Buprenorphine Prescribing
- Use of Telemedicine While Providing Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Barriers & Challenges to FQHC Use of Telehealth for Substance Use Disorder: A Examination of Policies Affecting FQHCs Pre- and During COVID-19 Emergency.
- Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders (2021)
- DEA to Launch Registration Process for Prescriptions by Telemedicine 2019
- Telehealth: Medicare Finalizes New Services for 2020 in Physician Fee Schedule
- Medication Assisted Treatment Implementation Checklist
General Resources:
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: Medication-Assisted Treatment Models of Care for Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care Setting.
- SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Providers and Administrators Training Resources:
- University of Mississippi Medical Center: Rural opioid disorder patients benefit from in-person, telehealth visit combo.
- SAMHSA:
- Treatment Outcome Comparison between Telepsychiatry and Face-to-Face Buprenorphine Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder: A 2-Year Retrospective Data Analysis.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information:
- The pressing shortage of buprenorphine prescribers and the pending role of telemedicine
- e-Addictology: An Overview of New Technologies for Assessing and Intervening in Addictive Behaviors
- Treatment Outcome Comparison between Telepsychiatry and Face-to-face Buprenorphine Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder: A 2-Year Retrospective Data Analysis
- BMC: Trends in telemedicine use in addiction treatment.
- Diversion Control Division: Use of Telemedicine While Providing Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).
- How To Develop a Telemedicine Initiative For Opioid Dependence
- Telemedicine’s Role in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
- Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP): Opportunities and Challenges to Utilizing Telehealth Technologies in the Provision of Medication Assisted Therapies in the Medi-Cal Program.
- Implementing Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Primary Care: Environmental Scan
- Advanced Topics in Telemental Health – This is a PowerPoint presentation regarding different telemental health aspects, including one about Tele-Mat in the State of Virginia
- Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes): A new model for educating primary care providers about treatment of substance use disorders
- RCORP – TA: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder: Philosophical and Practical Considerations.
