By Christie Teigland, Ph.D., Vice President, Research Science and Advanced Analytics of Insights, Inovalon
LinkedIn: Christie Teigland
LinkedIn: Inovalon
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently reported a nearly 30% decline in opioid-related deaths in 2024. It’s a promising milestone but it’s far from a full recovery. Our own research into opioid use disorder (OUD) shows that the crisis is not over, as high hospitalization rates and persistent gaps in follow-up care continue to put patients at risk of potential overdose, and subsequently, death.
Too many patients are falling through the cracks after being discharged from OUD-related hospitalizations. Using data-driven analytics to identify populations that are not receiving recommended treatments following an OUD-related hospital stay and directing them to appropriate care and resources could help these patients find the path to recovery and avoid further adverse events, including OUD-related deaths.
This research found that despite the existence of evidence-based therapies, which include medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone, fewer than one-in-three patients receive any of these within 30 days of being discharged from an OUD-related hospitalization.
Our entire industry, from healthcare providers to policymakers, must come together to better identify where care and treatment is lacking so we can begin to close these gaps.
Barriers to follow-up treatment
Many patients diagnosed with OUD never begin their treatment, which is attributed to a combination of systemic and community-level obstacles. Healthcare continues to remain fragmented, with patients left to navigate transitions between detox, hospitalization, and ongoing support services. A lack of data-sharing between providers also results in inconsistent care coordination when these patients do not engage in their treatment.
Social stigma also plays a role with misconceptions and lack of support around addiction and MAT that likely prevent many patients from seeking help or adhering to their treatment plan. It’s important for healthcare professionals to look beyond the clinical guidelines and consider social drivers of health (SDOH) when caring for these patients. Knowing their clinical history and social risk factors can help identify the gaps early, and ideally, ensure the gaps don’t become a roadblock to achieving good outcomes.
Treatment gaps in our most vulnerable populations
Our national analysis shows that patients aged 65 and older–and especially women–with OUD are the most vulnerable after an opioid-related hospitalization. They’re the least likely to receive FDA-recommended treatments, and on top of that, this population is often dealing with at least one or more chronic conditions. Their chronic diseases may also require them to be prescribed opioids for pain relief, which could increase the likelihood of them continuing opioid use.
This is where behavioral health interventions and better care coordination are essential throughout the discharge and follow-up process for optimal outcomes. I always remember what a geriatrician that I worked with said to me, “Prescribing a drug is easy, but addressing the root cause of the problem is challenging.”
All that to say, healthcare providers should carefully weigh the benefits versus clinical costs of continuing to prescribe opioids for seniors and consider alternative treatment methods.
Data-driven interventions
Technology and data are underutilized when it comes to OUD, and more broadly, when it comes to caring for patients that are challenged socioeconomically. We can use advanced analytic tools like predictive modeling to identify who is most likely to be admitted to the hospital or emergency room and who is least likely to adhere to their treatment.
These technologies can be the bridge to help us target the right interventions, at the right time, for the best possible outcomes.
Ultimately, finding solutions to the opioid crisis will require more than technology and clinical intervention. It requires a multifaceted approach that combines technology, evidence-based clinical guidelines, and support from state and local public health departments.
The industry is slowly making progress. To keep moving in the right direction, every step forward should be rooted in real-world data and evidence, to help identify the most at-risk populations and provide them with the necessary care and support to live their healthiest lives.