Utilizing Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Disorders in Rural Settings

CE Course Description

In recent years, the abuse of opioids such as prescription pain medications and heroin has become a growing epidemic in many States and communities, and rural areas continue to be among the hardest hit by the opioid crisis.  The purpose of this intermediate level continuing education course, developed using information from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to explore the unique factors of implementing Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) in rural primary care settings, as well as the evidence and availability of tools needed to implement MAT.  Characteristics of opioid use disorders are discussed, as well as specific factors that impact opioid use in rural communities.  In addition, benefits and challenges of implementing MAT in rural communities, strategies to overcome these challenges, and promising MAT models used in rural settings are presented.

Author: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

CE Course Objectives

1. Discuss the growing epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States, and how rural communities have been impacted.
2. Identify the components of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) to treat opioid use disorders, and the benefits and challenges of implementing MAT in rural communities.
3. Describe workforce and training barriers as well as provider knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that may impede the provider's willingness to provide MAT.
4. Assess how stigma surrounding addiction and logistical barriers impact treatment for opioid use disorders in rural communities.
5. Evaluate the importance of health information technology and telehealth in rural health care and how to overcome challenges to its use.
6. Outline the characteristics of promising MAT models that can be implemented in rural settings.

CE Course Outline

Section 1: Introduction (25 mins)

1. Opioid Use Disorder (5 mins)
2. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) (7 mins)
3. Rural Context (7 mins)
4. Methodology (6 mins)

Section 2: Delivering MAT in Rural Primary Care Settings (80 mins)

1. Challenges and Strategies for Overcoming Them (65 mins)
   1. Workforce and Training (10 mins)
   2. Provider Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs (8 min)
   3. Community Support (8 mins)
   4. Logistical Barriers (7 mins)
   5. Health Information Technology and Telehealth (10 mins)
   6. Payment and Reimbursement (12 mins)
   7. Policy (10 mins)
2. Promising Models for Use in Rural Settings (15 mins)

Section 3: Tools and Resources (10 mins)

1. Tools and Resources (10 mins)

Section 4: Conclusion (5 mins)

1. Conclusion (5 mins)