Horizon Treatment Services announced that it has been chosen by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and the Sierra Health Foundation to receive three grant awards totaling over $1 million. The grants will be used to expand the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) capacity at three of its Bay Area detox and residential programs. We are grateful for this opportunity to enhance our services and continue helping those in need. Recognized as a standard of care for those struggling with opioid use disorder, it comes at a critical time given the unprecedented number of overdose deaths that have not only impacted our local Bay Area counties but are affecting the entire country.
“When any member of our community or their loved ones seek treatment for their substance-use issues, we should expect to see all state-licensed programs provide medication-assisted treatment options in-house, with the help of healthcare practitioners,” Jaime Campos, Horizon Services CEO, said. “We specialize in serving Medicaid populations, and the costs of these treatment enhancements can be very difficult for our funders to cover due to their limited resources. However, we are so grateful that the state has provided seed funding so that providers like us can add these desperately needed resources to our programs in order to help our patients achieve lasting recovery.” The state-funded grants help the agency add medication-assisted treatment (MAT) capacity to its programs, something that the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) highlights as a powerful intervention for those with substance use disorders. According to SAMHSA, there is strong evidence that this treatment approach improves patient survival by reducing overdose rates. Additionally, it increases retention in treatment, decreases criminal activity, and enhances job prospects.
Horizon operates Bay Area programs such as Palm Detox in San Mateo, along with Cherry Hill Detox and Cronin Residential programs that are funded by Medi-Cal through a contract with Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH). “We are incredibly pleased to hear that the DHCS has granted our longstanding partner Horizon Services these MAT grants. We look forward to the addition of healthcare providers in our system who will be able to prescribe these life-saving medications while our clients are in their care,” said Dr. Karyn Tribble, Director of the Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services Department. “At the end of the day, we believe that individuals receiving this support may be more holistically treated and have a better chance of successfully pursuing their recovery goals.”
“This is a game-changer,” said Dr. Belis Aladag, Medical Director of Horizon’s Palm Detox program in San Mateo. “Addiction is defined as compulsive drug use even in the face of negative consequences, with huge costs to both individuals and society at large. The good news, however, is that we have highly effective evidence-based medications to help patients enter and stay in recovery. By giving access to MAT directly at our detoxification center, we will be able to engage more patients and not miss the window of opportunity that exists to make a difference in their lives.” Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) refers mainly to buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD) but also includes naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram for alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Horizon has announced that it will be using its grants to add healthcare practitioners to its programs and improve its state licenses. This will enable them to prescribe life-saving medication to clients with substance use disorders. Campos expressed delight in partnering with state and county partners to enhance the quality of treatment offered to community members. He also emphasized the importance of taking advantage of the brief window of willingness to engage in medication-assisted treatment while the patients are still in their care.
