As a part of the DO's Together program, the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) has created the "Transformation Academy," webinar series. The Transformation Academy provides web-based, blended and classroom style activities to MOA members. The Transformation Academy has webinars scheduled through September. For more information on the program schedule and to download materials from previous webinars, click HERE.

The webinar on Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) was a wealth of compelling information. For presentation materials from the MACRA webinar,

The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) Safe Opioid Use Task Force continues to develop educational programs and influence recommendations as legislation within the state takes shape. On a federal level, the opioid crisis is getting more attention. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has issued a final rule to increase the number of patients that qualified physicians who prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorders can treat from 100 to 275. Providers, policymakers, advocates, and experts have pointed to the current 100 patient limit for buprenorphine prescribing as a barrier to opioid use disorder treatment. The rule aims to expand access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and associated behavioral health supports for tens of thousands of people with opioid use disorders.

Link to HHS Announcement
Link to Fact Sheet from the White House

The expansion of treatment is part of the HHS Opioid Initiative, which was launched in March 2015. The initiative focuses on 3 key priorities:  
1) improving opioid prescribing practices; 2) expanding access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder; and 3) increasing the use of Naloxone to reverse opioid overdoses.

"The opioid issues are complex. But we do know that treatment for opioid addiction is paramount. We at the MOA see the expansion of treatment programs as a key step in combatting addiction and saving lives," said Bruce Wolf, DO, FAOCR, President of the MOA.

The ability to treat more patients will include more requirements. "Practitioners approved to treat up to 275 patients will also be required to accept greater responsibility for providing behavioral health services and care coordination, and ensuring quality assurance and improvement practices, diversion control, and continuity of care in emergencies. The higher limit will also carry with it the duty to regularly reaffirm the practitioner's ongoing eligibility and to participate in data reporting and monitoring as required by SAMHSA," says MOA Safe Opioid Use Task Force member, William Morrone, DO.

In May of 2016, the MOA hosted a Town Hall meeting on the opioid crisis facing our state. The event offered a distinguished panel of experts from the medical, legislative and law enforcement sectors in a town hall-style discussion. The event was moderated by Tim

	Hon. Donald Allen, Jr., Post-Town Hall comments

Skubick, Senior Capitol Correspondent and host of WKAR's "Off the Record," as an overflow crowd asked questions and heard from the various points of view.

After the Town Hall, panelists were invited to provide comments from their perspective. The MOA has a YouTube channel featuring videos from the 2016 Town Hall on Combating the Opioid Crisis.


To view the Town Hall videos on the MOA YouTube channel, click HERE