PEDTAR

Performance Improvement Project: PEDTAR

Prevention, Early Detection, Treatment and Recovery (PEDTAR) Performance Improvement Project

The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) selected the topic, Prevention, Early Detection, Treatment, and Recovery (PEDTAR) for substance use disorders as a Performance Improvement Project (PIP) for all behavioral health managed care organizations in the state.

The PEDTAR PIP occurred from 2021 through 2024. The OMHSAS Aim statement for the PEDTAR PIP was to: “Significantly slow (and eventually stop) the growth of SUD prevalence among HealthChoices members while improving outcomes for those individuals with SUD and also addressing racial and ethnic health disparities through a systematic and person-centered approach.”

Community Care and our county oversights participated in the PIP. As part of the project, Community Care developed aims and interventions to encourage treatment for members with SUD. Two population health activities were developed for the project:

1. Information about medication-assisted treatment (MAT): we have developed member and provider toolkits to offer information about opioid use disorders (OUD) and alcohol use disorders (AUD).

1. Efforts to reduce stigma about SUD: Our anti-stigma campaign, CCARE (Community Care's Anti-stigma Resources and Education), aims to further reduce the impact of stigma and increase recovery-seeking behaviors for those with an SUD.

The PEDTAR PIP concluded in 2024. OMHSAS has selected a new PIP for all BH MCOs in the state to start titled “Improving Suicide Prevention and Community Resiliency.” This PIP will take place from 2026-2028. The OMHSAS PIP aims to develop a comprehensive public health approach that addresses upstream social determinants of health implicated in suicide risk, as well as promote early identification of risk factors, assessment, and evidence-based interventions for those at risk of suicide. Community Care will provide more details as the PIP progresses.