HB1029 Public Health - Substance Use Disorders
Delegate Peter Hammen, Chair
Health and Government Operations Committee
March 3, 2015
Position: Support
MADC supports HB1029 which will ensure that the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
Criteria will be used in placement determinations for treatment of substance use disorders (SUD).
Individuals with SUDs must have access to the clinically appropriate level of care in order to achieve
positive results. “The ASAM criteria is the most widely used and comprehensive set of guidelines for
placement, continued stay and transfer/discharge of patients with addiction and co-occurring conditions.”
This legislation is necessary because without it, limitations may be placed on clinicians by insurers or
management that does not align with the patient’s clinical needs.
ASAM Criteria is absolutely essential in the effective treatment of SUDs:

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is the leading medical specialty society
for alcohol and drug addiction treatment in the world. ASAM created the Patient Placement
Criteria (PPC; or, the ASAM Criteria), a set of decision rules for recommending which treatments
will best assist a given patient. This expert consensus-based algorithm has been shown by
research to achieve the optimal clinical outcome with the least restrictive and most efficient care.

The ASAM levels of care reflect a spectrum of treatment options representing differences in
settings, types and ranges of services, and intensity of service use and delivery. The goal of
treatment is to provide the services needed by each patient, at the appropriate level of intensity,
within the appropriate setting.

Substance use disorder professional assessments should be recognized and followed when
determining the appropriate level of care for reimbursement to ensure that people are able to
receive the level of care they require.

ASAM PPC has created a national, even international, evidence-based, single standard of care for
services delivery in addiction and co-occurring disorders, that unites the needs of multiple
stakeholders, including providers, payors, regulatory authorities, and patients.

43 states require the use of standard patient placement criteria approximately two-thirds of which
require providers to use The ASAM Criteria.
The use of ASAM criteria is also cost effective. When individuals get the treatment they need at the
appropriate level of care, they are able to successfully recover. When they do not receive the appropriate
level of care then they are less likely to succeed and will require additional more costly care in the future.
Without the appropriate level of care, persons are more likely to relapse and are more likely to end up
in the emergency room or become involved in the criminal justice system. These alternatives are very
expensive to the State. In ever increasing numbers, individuals who do not receive appropriate treatment
die from an overdose. This is the most costly to families and communities. Requiring ASAM criteria to be
used in placement determinations will ensure that those who seek treatment are provided the appropriate
level of care to support their recovery.
MADC therefore urges the committee to issue a favorable report to HB1029.
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