Specialty addiction treatment facilities across the six states piloting ATLAS™ asked to respond to a survey on their facility’s services and clinical practices, invite patients to participate in a perception of care survey
Starting today, all specialty addiction treatment facilities in North Carolina are invited to participate in a survey of their practices and services, and to invite their patients to respond to a perception of care survey. This information is being gathered to inform ATLAS™, an addiction treatment locator, analysis, and standards tool being developed by Shatterproof.
Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in America, has selected six states to pilot ATLAS before expanding across the country. North Carolina joined the project in August with funding provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC).
Since first announcing the state’s participation in ATLAS on August 27th, partners across North Carolina including addiction treatment providers, payers, and advocacy organizations, have been collaborating with Shatterproof to inform the development and implementation of the initiative. The start of data collection today marks an important milestone in the project.
“It can be difficult for people seeking substance use treatment to identify high-quality providers across our health care system,” said Kate Hobbs Knutson, MD, chief of behavioral health at Blue Cross NC. “Shatterproof is changing that with ATLAS. This new approach to quality measurement will help North Carolinians make informed choices about their care.”
ATLAS will provide objective, reliable information on the use of best practices at addiction treatment facilities, empowering people impacted by addiction to make informed decisions and navigate this complex system. It will include information on all addiction treatment facilities in the state and will allow users to compare programs side-by-side or filter by criteria important to them, such as their location, program needs, or insurance carrier.
Providers and other stakeholders will also be able to access more detailed data and view trends through password-protected portals on ATLAS. “ATLAS is being designed to support quality improvement, allowing states and payers to make data-driven decisions when directing payment and technical assistance resources, and in modifying policies to support providers in delivering high-quality care” said Samantha Arsenault, Vice President of National Treatment Quality Initiatives at Shatterproof.
Shatterproof has been working with its state-based and national partners to encourage provider response to the ATLAS Treatment Facility Survey. Addiction treatment providers who receive the ATLAS Treatment Facility Survey but do not respond will still be listed on the ATLAS website with the note that this quality information is not available.
ATLAS provides the opportunity for addiction treatment providers to showcase their level of quality, to come together as a field to embrace a common set of standards, and to align financial incentives and market forces with best practices. Participation by providers in this initiative will be critical, and a marker of their commitment to quality and transparency.
###
About Shatterproof
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing the course of the addiction crisis in America. Shatterproof is focused on ensuring treatment in America is based upon proven research on and ending the stigma of addiction. The organization advocates for changes to federal and state policy, payer reform, treatment quality assessment, and provides public education through family and workplace programs.
