Faculty

Brian Fuehrlein, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine Director, Psychiatric Emergency Room VA Connecticut Healthcare System New Haven, CT

Tobias Wasser, MD Chief Medical Officer, Whiting Forensic Hospital Middletown, CT Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine New Haven, CT

Statement of Need

The opioid abuse epidemic has resulted in an alarming increase in opioid-related overdoses and deaths; however, the severe and lethal consequences of opioid misuse is preventable with the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which is a proven, effective tool for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Research has demonstrated that MAT is effective in reducing opioid use and overdoses, increasing treatment retention, diminishing risky behaviors that contribute to the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C virus, and reducing morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, access to treatment is a major issue, with a number of factors - including stigma toward MAT and those receiving it, regulations and a lack of quality standards for treatment programs, an inadequate and unevenly distributed workforce, lack of confidence/knowledge and institutional support, and the belief that patients should be able to abstain without MAT - contributing to access.

This CME Outfitters Snack features expert faculty expanding on best practices for MAT initiation particularly in diverse care settings such as the VA system, criminal justice settings, hospitals, and outpatient clinics, by examining the neurobiology of opioid addiction and the efficacy of opioid agonists and antagonists in reducing illicit opioid use.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this CE activity, participants should be able to:

• Examine the neurobiology of opioid addiction relative to the efficacy of opioid agonists and antagonists in reducing illicit opioid use.
• Increase initiation of MAT for OUD by 25% by evaluating evidence to support its use and addressing barriers to its implementation.
• Incorporate best practices for the use of MAT for OUD in diverse care settings, including the VA system, criminal justice settings, hospitals, and outpatient clinics.

The following learning objectives pertain only to those requesting CPE credit:

• Examine the neurobiology of opioid addiction relative to the efficacy of opioid agonists and antagonists in reducing illicit opioid use.
• Describe the evidence to support initiation of MAT and barriers to its increased implementation.
• Summarize best practices for the use of MAT for OUD in diverse care settings, including the VA system, criminal justice settings, hospitals, and outpatient clinics.

Financial Support

Supported by an educational grant from Indivior Inc.

Target Audience

Addiction specialists, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, treatment counselors, medical students, and other members of the addiction care team.

Credit Information

CME Credit (Physicians):
CME Outfitters, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CPE Credit (Pharmacists):
CME Outfitters, LLC, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. 0.75 contact hours (0.075 CEUs) Universal Activity Number:
Enduring: 0376-0000-19-046-H01-P

Type: Knowledge-based

ABIM MOC Credit:
MOC Points available for Internal Medicine and General Medicine Board Certified Physicians.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 0.75 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Learning Format:
Enduring Material

MIPS Improvement Activity: This activity counts towards MIPS Improvement Activity requirements under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). Clinicians should submit their improvement activities by attestation via the CMS Quality Payment Program website.

Note to Physician Assistants: AAPA accepts certificates of participation for educational activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM from organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

Note to Nurse Practitioners: Nurse Practitioners can apply for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). AANP will accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. Nurse practitioners can also apply for credit through their state boards.

Post-tests, credit request forms, and activity evaluations must be completed online (requires free account activation), and participants can print their certificate or statement of credit immediately (75% pass rate required). This website supports all browsers except Internet Explorer for Mac. For complete technical requirements and privacy policy, visit https://www.cmeoutfitters.com/privacy-and-confidentiality-policy/.

Disclosure Declaration

It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of their CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, or with the commercial supporter of this CE activity. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and attempted to resolve any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that these relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.

Dr. Fuehrlein reports that he is a consultant for the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Dr. Wasser has no disclosures to report. 

Tomy Graham, MD (peer reviewer) has no disclosures to report.

Mae Ochoa, RPh (peer reviewer) has no disclosures to report.

Kashemi D. Rorie, PhD (planning committee) has no disclosures to report.

Jan Perez (planning committee) has no disclosures to report.

Sharon Tordoff (planning committee) has no disclosures to report.

Disclosures were obtained from the CME Outfitters, LLC staff: No disclosures to report.

CME Outfitters, LLC and the faculty do not endorse the use of any product outside of the FDA labeled indications. Medical professionals should not utilize the procedures, products, or diagnosis techniques discussed during this activity without evaluation of their patient for contraindications or dangers of use.

Questions about this activity? Call us at 877.CME.PROS(877.263.7767).

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