Catasys on Healthcare Newsletter

Below are three articles related to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) that we thought might interest you. As we discover clinically relevant articles or other information, we will share it with you by sending this bi-monthly newsletter. The articles below reference cost savings, utilization and practice patterns. If you have a special interest in other topics, please let us know.

The objectives of these newsletters are to:
	1.	share current research and industry trends,
	2.	identify best practices in SUD treatment and medical management, and
	3.	augment the current knowledge base with additional information and resources that will help improve the health of SUD members, thus resulting in reduced utilization and decreased total health care costs.

I hope you find this useful.

The Catasys Health Team


	Alcohol Biomarkers in Patients Admitted for Trauma Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research


	Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Impact on Health Care Utilization and Cost Journal of Studies on Alcohol


	How Primary Care Providers Talk to Patients About Alcohol (or Don’t) Journal of General Internal Medicine


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	Alcohol Biomarkers in Patients Admitted for Trauma Excessive use of alcohol is a common cause of trauma. Among patients admitted to hospital after trauma: 22% had positive blood alcohol levels, 18.7% met current DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse, the majority of patients had one or more adverse health events during their hospitalization, and 25 adverse health events were associated with positive blood alcohol levels. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
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	Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Impact on Health Care Utilization and Cost For patients with substance use disorders entering treatment, there was a substantial decline in inappropriate utilization and cost (hospital and ER) in the post-treatment period. Inpatient, ER and total medical costs declined by 35%, 39% and 26%, respectively (p < .01). Journal of Studies on Alcohol
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	How Primary Care Providers Talk to Patients About Alcohol (or Don’t) Provider discomfort and avoidance are important barriers to evidence based brief alcohol counseling. Three themes were identified: (1) providers often did not explore patient-disclosed alcohol use; (2) advice about alcohol use was typically vague and/or tentative in contrast to smoking-related advice, which was more common and usually more clear and firm; and (3) discomfort on the part of the provider was evident during alcohol-related discussions. Journal of General Internal Medicine
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Thank you very much for reading our newsletter. We appreciate your support.
Catasys integrates medical and behavioral therapies to help your organization treat and manage your substance dependent population to improve outcomes and lowers both the medical and behavioral costs associated with Substance Dependence and the related co-morbidities.

Catasys, Inc., 11150 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1500, Los Angeles, California 90025
For questions regarding this newsletter, please email: info@catasyshealth.com

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