Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is collaborating with Boulder Care to grow its telehealth addiction treatment network across Ohio.
The agreement allows Anthem's Ohio employer-based, individual and Medicare Advantage plan members to access Boulder Care's digital treatment for substance use disorders, which promotes a value-based care model, according to the Sept. 14 announcement.
Patients will have access to a care team, which includes a clinician, a peer recovery coach, and a care advocate and case manager. The rounded team also challenges a historical problem in Ohio: a lack of access to addiction medications and prescribers.
"A cornerstone of Anthem's strategy to address increased rates of substance use disorder has been to expand access to quality treatment which meets members where they are at, and with what they are ready to do," said Eric Bailly, Anthem substance use disorder strategy director. "Partnering with a provider such as Boulder Care allows us to do this in a way that extends our commitment to quality service delivery in a virtual format for our Ohio membership."
Ohio is the fourth-highest state in terms of drug overdoses and saw a 2020 spike in opioid overdoses, according to the announcement.