Georgia Nursing - May 2018
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<strong>May</strong>, June, July <strong>2018</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> • Page 17<br />
New Tool Available to <strong>Georgia</strong> Health Care<br />
Providers to Address the Opioid Crisis<br />
GNA<br />
Nightingale Tribute<br />
We would like to kindly request the names of<br />
your departed colleagues to recognize them at<br />
the next GNA Membership Assembly in 2019.<br />
Laura Colbert, MPH, MCHES<br />
Executive Director, <strong>Georgia</strong>ns for a Healthy Future<br />
lcolbert@healthyfuturega.org | 404-567-5016 x 1<br />
Four <strong>Georgia</strong>ns die every<br />
day from opioid overdose<br />
and recent data from the<br />
Centers for Disease Control<br />
and Prevention confirm<br />
that the epidemic shows<br />
no signs of slowing. Health<br />
care providers, public health<br />
professionals, community<br />
leaders, and families are<br />
all searching for effective<br />
strategies to slow and stop<br />
this growing public health<br />
crisis. Some initial steps have<br />
been taken to increase access<br />
Laura Colbert<br />
to life-saving drugs like naloxone, improve and expand<br />
the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) to<br />
prevent over-prescribing, and raise public awareness<br />
about the risks of opioids and other substances, but<br />
more is needed. Solutions must include evidencebased<br />
strategies that emphasize prevention and early<br />
intervention, as well as timely treatment and supports<br />
for recovery.<br />
An exciting development within <strong>Georgia</strong>’s Medicaid<br />
program gives health care providers an additional<br />
tool to aid in the fight against substance use<br />
disorders, especially among adolescents and young<br />
adults. <strong>Georgia</strong>’s Medicaid agency has activated the<br />
reimbursement codes for a tool called SBIRT, which<br />
stands for Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to<br />
Treatment. SBIRT is a set of tools that identifies people<br />
who use alcohol or other drugs at harmful levels and<br />
guides follow-up counseling and referral to treatment<br />
before serious long-term consequences occur.<br />
Ninety percent of adults who meet the medical<br />
criteria for addiction started smoking, drinking, or<br />
using other drugs before they were 18 years old.<br />
Because Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids cover<br />
half of all <strong>Georgia</strong> children, the activation of the<br />
Medicaid reimbursement codes for SBIRT is a powerful<br />
opportunity to identify youth substance use and<br />
intervene before use develops into addiction. Studies<br />
show that simply asking young people about drugs<br />
and alcohol use through a short screening can lead to<br />
positive behavior changes and that brief interventions<br />
reduce the frequency and amount of alcohol or other<br />
drug use by adolescents.<br />
The Medicaid agency’s decision was the product<br />
of a sustained advocacy effort by <strong>Georgia</strong>ns for a<br />
Healthy Future (GHF) and the <strong>Georgia</strong> Council on<br />
Substance Abuse (GCSA). We anticipate it will lead<br />
to the screening of an estimated 145,000 <strong>Georgia</strong><br />
Happy<br />
Father’s<br />
Day<br />
youth annually and that 36,000 of those youth<br />
will present substance use behaviors that prompt a<br />
brief intervention with a health care provider. Initial<br />
data from <strong>Georgia</strong>’s Medicaid agency demonstrates<br />
that some providers are already using SBIRT in their<br />
practices.<br />
Excited by these powerful results, GHF and GCSA<br />
are committed to continuing our efforts to improve<br />
access to screening, early intervention, and recovery<br />
services and supports for young people across<br />
<strong>Georgia</strong>. While the Medicaid reimbursement codes<br />
allow physicians, physician extenders, and advanced<br />
practice registered nurses to provide SBIRT services,<br />
we recognize that RNs, LPNs, licensed clinical social<br />
workers, and certified peer counselors can and should<br />
be able to provide SBIRT to youth and adults. Further,<br />
the codes allow reimbursement for SBIRT primarily<br />
in health care settings, but exclude schools and other<br />
community-based settings where most young people<br />
spend their time.<br />
We invite the members of the <strong>Georgia</strong> Nurses<br />
Association to join our efforts to prevent substance<br />
use among young <strong>Georgia</strong>ns. Spread the word by<br />
telling the eligible providers in your clinic, public health<br />
department, or hospital about the new opportunity to<br />
provide SBIRT services to Medicaid-eligible patients.<br />
Attend a training to develop the skills to implement<br />
SBIRT with the people that you care for. Join our ongoing<br />
advocacy efforts to activate the reimbursement<br />
codes for more practitioner levels (including RNs and<br />
LPNs) and more settings by contacting us for more<br />
information.<br />
The opioid and substance use crisis that is sweeping<br />
<strong>Georgia</strong> and impacting communities nationwide will<br />
require a full spectrum of solutions that leverage the<br />
expertise of health care providers, public and private<br />
resources, and the support of communities and<br />
families. SBIRT is an evidence-based tool that can play<br />
a powerful role in our collective efforts to address the<br />
current substance use epidemic and create a healthier<br />
<strong>Georgia</strong>.<br />
Note: The SBIRT procedure codes are open in<br />
GAMMIS in the following areas: 010 (inpatient<br />
hospital), 070 (outpatient hospital), 080 (swingbed),<br />
200 (home health), 430 (physician), 431 (physician<br />
extender), and 740 (advanced nurse practitioners). The<br />
procedure codes are 99408 (alcohol and/or substance<br />
abuse structured screening and brief intervention<br />
services, 15-30 minutes) and 99,409 (alcohol and/<br />
or substance abuse structured screening and brief<br />
intervention services, greater than 30 minutes).<br />
Now Hiring<br />
RNs & LPNs<br />
in Behavioral Health Crisis Services<br />
Robust benefits including:<br />
• State-sponsored health insurance plans<br />
• Federal and state holidays, generous leave benefits<br />
• Professional development and ongoing training,<br />
including in-house CEU trainings<br />
• National Health Service Corps approved sites<br />
• Retirement plan with company match<br />
Apply today!<br />
http://highlandrivershealth.com/Careers<br />
“When you work with Highland Rivers Health, you help build<br />
stronger individuals, stronger families and stronger communities.”<br />
Melanie Dallas, LPC, Chief Executive Officer<br />
Please send names to GNA at<br />
3032 Briarcliff Road NE. Atlanta, GA 30329.<br />
Or via e-mail to gna@georgianurses.org,<br />
Subject Line “Nightingale Tribute 2019.”<br />
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