A federal grant supports Workit Health in expanding telehealth
substance use disorder treatment access in Ashland, Hancock, and Crawford Counties, Ohio, overcoming the twin barriers of access
and cost of care.
HOLLAND,
Ohio, May 13, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Workit
Health, the nation's most trusted provider of evidence-based
telehealth treatment for substance use disorder, is leveraging a
grant of $913,560 from the Rural
Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Medication Assisted
Treatment (MAT) Access program to reach rural Ohio residents in Ashland, Crawford, and Hancock Counties who are struggling with
substance use disorders.
This grant from RCORP provides Workit
Health even greater opportunities to reach vulnerable rural
populations in Ashland,
Crawford, and Hancock Counties, covering the cost of
treatment for many uninsured and under-insured residents, and
encouraging cooperation with local partners.
Despite the common perception of drug use and addiction as "city
problems," the opioid epidemic in the
United States disproportionately affects rural communities,
and it's hitting Ohio particularly
hard. While safe and effective treatments for opioid and alcohol
use disorders have been available for years, they can be hard to
come by, especially in rural areas. A 2020 study found that more
than 500,000 Ohio residents live
more than 10 miles from their nearest provider of buprenorphine, an
FDA-approved medication that relieves opioid cravings and
withdrawal symptoms and dramatically reduces the risk of overdose.
Additionally, many addiction providers do not accept Medicaid, and
a 2017 study found that 50% of the active buprenorphine prescribers
in Ohio accepted only cash.
As a telehealth addiction treatment company that works with
health plans and insurance companies and has served more than
23,000 members, Workit Health is already lowering these barriers.
Workit Health launched their Ohio
clinic in early 2021, and 10% of members in Ohio live in a rural area. This grant from
RCORP provides Workit Health even greater opportunities to reach
vulnerable rural populations in Ashland, Crawford, and Hancock Counties, covering the cost of
treatment for many uninsured and under-insured residents, and
encouraging cooperation with local partners.
A study conducted by Workit Labs, the research division of
Workit Health, and published in Telemedicine and e-Health, assessed
retention in telehealth OUD treatment among the largest sample of
rural Americans to date. The study found that at the three-month
point, 62% of Workit Health's rural OUD members were retained in
care, and 99% were adherent to their medication treatment. This
compares to 50% three-month retention rates reported in published
studies on telehealth OUD treatment among patients living in rural
areas. Retention in care is an important measure of success as it
is associated with improved well-being and lower rates of overdose
and death.
The RCORP funding will support Workit Health in reaching and
serving rural residents in Ashland, Hancock, and Crawford counties who need SUD treatment that
fits their lives. Workit Health is engaging with local partners in
each county, including hospitals, health clinics, pharmacies, first
responders, and community-based organizations to facilitate
treatment for uninsured individuals who may not have access to
traditional treatment options.
About Workit Health
Founded in 2015 by two women in recovery, Workit Health has been
addressing substance use disorders using a virtual-first model for
eight years and has provided care for over 23,000 members across 20
states. The Workit clinical program includes video visits with
licensed clinicians, e-prescribing for substance use disorders and
comorbid conditions, and psychosocial, therapeutic support.
Workit's innovative technology removes barriers and expands access
to evidence-based, person-centered treatment for people struggling
with drugs and alcohol, improving outcomes and reducing costs.
More about Workit Health at: https://www.workithealth.com.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services
Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) under grant number HB1RH49881. This information or
content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be
construed as the position or policy of, nor should any endorsements
be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Media Contact
Kali Lux, Workit Health, 1
602-698-6181, kali@workithealth.com,
https://www.workithealth.com/
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SOURCE Workit Health