Provides information and recommendations on safe and effective methods for acute pain management for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) healthcare providers to promote safe opioid prescribing and decrease the number of veterans who develop opioid use disorder (OUD). Covers the Stepped Care model to manage acute pain including opioid use risks, opioid free and non-pharmacological approaches for pain management, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Announces a policy guiding the authorization of alternative, non-opioid pain management treatments and treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) for federal workers receiving workers' compensation. Aims to reduce barriers to non-opioid pain treatment, such as alternative pain medication, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and other treatment without medication, as well as in-patient pain management programs. Increases patient access to OUD treatments, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), opioid treatment programs, in-patient, out-patient, and emergency services.

Provides information and resources for healthcare and social service organization leaders and providers to improve care coordination and access to services for women with opioid use disorder (OUD) in HRSA-supported programs, such as health centers, Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Ryan White HIV/AIDS clinics, and home visiting programs, as well as in other care settings. Focuses on shifting the culture around addiction and treatment, engaging women with OUD in care, and creating and maintaining partnerships that support care coordination for women with OUD. Offers self-assessment tools and metrics to help users monitor and evaluate care coordination in their organizations.

Offers evidence-based information, recommendations, guides, and tools to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) healthcare providers and patients to assist in the decision making process to improve the treatment and outcomes for patients with substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD) and methamphetamine use, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Describes best practices to help patients avoid preventable complications, reduce substance use, and improve their overall health and wellness.

Offers evidence-based opioid overdose prevention practices for community leaders, local and regional organizers, nonprofit groups, law enforcement, public health and other members of the public. Provides summaries of effective strategies to prevent opioid overdose and the context in which they are most effective. Discusses targeted naloxone distribution, including Good Samaritan laws, syringe services programs, criminal justice settings, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and initiating MAT in emergency departments. Summarizes the major research on each practice and offers examples of organizations that have successfully used the strategies to reduce the risk of overdose.

Details the mental health services Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals and clinics offer for veterans and their families and describes the VHA guiding principles for mental healthcare. Discusses the resources available for veterans and family members, and instructions on locating mental healthcare facilities and providers, including suicide prevention services and telemedicine visits. Covers treatment options for common mental health concerns, such as depression, substance abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder. Offers information on specific programs available to veterans with special needs, including women, those experiencing homelessness, veterans involved with the criminal justice system, and seniors.

Provides information and resources on how to obtain free training to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for eligible clinicians working to address the opioid epidemic. Seeks to increase the number of MAT-certified providers with a Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) Waiver in rural areas and other high-need communities, with the goal of expanding access to the most effective, evidence-based practices for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Offers information on free MAT training provided through the Provider Clinical Support System (PCSS), disciplines eligible to receive training, and the benefits to providers of obtaining a MAT waiver.

Collaborates with tribal stakeholders across the U.S. to address issues related to the treatment of chronic pain and the use of heroin and prescription opioids among tribal populations. Works to promote appropriate and effective pain management, reduce opioid overdose deaths, and improve access to culturally appropriate substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery services for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Workgroup focus areas include prescriber support, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), harm reduction, perinatal substance abuse, program effectiveness metrics, technical assistance, and communications.

Offers comprehensive information and resources on the use of prescription opioids, managing chronic pain, and opioid use disorder (OUD) for patients and providers, specifically for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and Indian Health Service (IHS) providers. Includes online tools, technical assistance resources, guides, and training for patients and providers on topics such as opioid crisis data, opioid prevention, COVID-19 response and opioids, proper pain management, opioid prescribing/stewardship, maternal health, syringe services programs, naloxone use, child health and wellness, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), tele-MAT, trauma informed care, best practices, wellness courts, and training opportunities. Resource is an initiative of the IHS Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (ASAP).

Describes a new benefit that covers opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment services under Medicare Part B medical insurance. Enables the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make bundled payments to certified opioid treatment programs (OTPs) for OUD treatment services for an episode of care provided to Medicare Part B beneficiaries. Covers the following services under the new benefit: opioid agonist and antagonist medication-assisted treatment (MAT) medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), naloxone and overdose education, substance use counseling, individual and group therapy, toxicology testing, intake activities, and periodic assessments.

Provides information on methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone and how they are used to provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Covers the signs of an overdose and answers questions about each medication.

Contains field guidance, evidence-based to the extent possible, in the form of documents and presentations to support clinical decisions about starting, continuing, or tapering opioid therapy, and other challenges related to safe opioid prescribing. Includes patient and provider education, clinical tools, and other resources.

Provides an overview of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and information on opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Describes the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act, which allows physicians and other practitioners to provide MAT to a larger patient population. Includes information and training resources for healthcare providers, researchers, and patients.

Provides an overview of treatment options for veterans experiencing substance use issues. Includes information on therapy, medications to reduce opioid and other substance use, intensive outpatient treatment, residential care, continuing care and relapse prevention, self-help groups, and more.

Provides an overview of alcohol and drug misuse, screening, treatment options, and programs and services for veterans. Covers evidence-based psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for substance use disorders (SUDs), medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) and other SUDs, motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, and more. Includes additional resources to help veterans and family members access SUD treatment and recovery support services, as well as resources to manage SUD during the COVID-19 pandemic.