Innovation During COVID-19: Improving Addiction Treatment Access

This article describes the Rhode Island Buprenorphine Hotline, a “tele-bridge” clinic where patients undergo screening and, if appropriate, are prescribed buprenorphine for induction. This is a new model enabled by changes in federal guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Evaluation of the hotline is ongoing, but initial reception among hotline users and providers is positive. The practice strategy this article is focused on is promoting access to medication assisted treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resource Details

• Population: People With Substance Use Disorders
• Topics of Practice: Organizational Change/ Development|Policy Change/ Development
• Level of Evidence: Promising
• Tools or Materials Included in Resource: No
• Social Determinants of Health: Healthcare Access and Quality|Social and Community Context
• Outside of US: No