The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration today announced two initiatives as part of the state’s effort to attack the drug epidemic. First, the Next Level Recovery website, www.in.gov/recovery, now has a new geolocation feature designed to help Hoosiers find Division of Mental Health and Addiction-certified addiction treatment providers throughout the state. Additionally, FSSA is preparing to open a new addiction residential treatment unit specializing in opioid use disorder at Richmond State Hospital to support Hoosiers with an immediate need of services, particularly those in East Central Indiana.
The new web portal, found under the “treatment” tab at www.in.gov/recovery allows individuals to search for certified inpatient, outpatient, residential and opioid treatment providers by location, treatment option and populations served (adult or adolescent/male or female). The portal will display helpful information such as payment types accepted by each provider and whether the facility is near public transportation.
“This new online feature puts critical information right into the palms of the hands of people who need it most – those who are struggling with addiction and are ready to find help,” said FSSA Secretary Jennifer Walthall, M.D., M.P.H. “It is extremely important that we continue to add tools like this in our fight against the opioid crisis in Indiana as it helps direct individuals to addiction treatment that fits their unique needs.”
www.IN.gov/recovery, launched in October 2017, offers information for health professionals, emergency personnel, law enforcement, community leaders and persons with substance use disorder and their families. The website is one of several enhancements Indiana is making to provide a variety of ways to connect people to the right care at the right time.
The new 22 bed addiction residential treatment unit at Richmond State Hospital is expected to open by the end of March. It is the result of DMHA’s recent search for existing and available state assets to try to meet immediate need for opioid use disorder treatment.
“We are grateful to Dr. Warren Fournier and his staff at Richmond State Hospital, for demonstrating leadership in identifying an existing, yet currently unused, unit at the hospital in which we could quickly develop much-needed residential treatment services,” added Walthall. “We hope we are able to quickly see the impacts of the program, which will include medication-assisted treatment, in the future.”
Additional state efforts to improve access to treatment include adding new benefits and approximately $80 million in annual funding for substance use disorder treatment for HIP and Medicaid members through a federal waiver just approved last week, five additional opioid treatment programs that are opening in 2018 and, through the federal 21st Century Cures grant, FSSA is working with addiction providers across the state to create other new residential treatment programs or expand their existing programs. The state also has a campaign underway to educate Hoosiers about opioid use disorder and has launched a website, www.KnowTheOFacts.org where people can learn more about the disease.