As policymakers develop managed care systems, we need to be sure they fully understand addiction and the nature of successful addiction treatment. Studies show that length of treatment is an important factor in successful recovery. In the shift to managed care plans, we face three critical challenges. How to ensure comprehensive, cost-effective services. Substance abuse is a multifaceted disorder, and an insurance package or health plan is only part of the formula for successful treatment.
Effective treatment requires a set of core services beyond health care provisions.
These services include such components as help with housing, child care, education, vocational rehabilitation, and often such basic survival needs as food. Other important services for this population can include counseling and education on parenting skills, violence prevention, family AOD problems, sexual and physical abuse, nutrition, and prevention of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Many managed care organizations are unfamiliar with the needs of chronic substance abusers who are treated with public funding and with the community-based organizations that serve them. Yet, for many patients with serious and long-standing substance abuse problems, these services will be essential for treatment to succeed. How to provide an adequate level of AOD benefits.