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MATTERS

A rapidly expanding referral program connecting those with opioid and substance use disorder to medication for addiction treatment

For those with opioid use disorder (OUD), immediate access to buprenorphine and follow-up treatment is critical to success in recovery. Medication for Addiction Treatment and Electronic Referrals (MATTERS) began as an initiative to improve access to treatment for OUD out of the emergency department, with a focus on rapid access to medication for addiction treatment. After its inception in 2016, the program quickly demonstrated applicability to settings outside of the emergency department. MATTERS has since expanded to facilitate referrals from community-based organizations, inpatient settings, correctional facilities, telemedicine agencies, and first responders such as EMS, police, and fire departments. Today, MATTERS partners with over 1,500 agencies across New York State and is expanding into Pennsylvania and New Jersey in 2024.

MATTERS referrals are submitted electronically and take only 3-5 minutes to complete. Individuals are encouraged to participate alongside health professionals in the referral process to promote empowerment and ownership over their treatment journey. MATTERS’ rapid referral site is accessible on any electronic device via the ‘MATTERS Network’ mobile application or website. During the referral process, individuals can choose where they would like to follow up from over 2,200 weekly appointment slots available to them, for both in-person and virtual treatment. All participating treatment organizations will accept anyone through MATTERS, regardless of insurance status, polysubstance use, etc.

In addition to facilitating rapid referrals to treatment, MATTERS offers:

  • A medication voucher covering the cost of up to 14 days of oral buprenorphine for the uninsured
  • Round-trip transportation for patients’ first clinic appointment at no cost
  • Free harm reduction supplies such as fentanyl and xylazine test strips
  • Instructions for patients on initiating buprenorphine treatment at home
  • Telemedicine evaluations and virtual treatment options for follow-up

A detailed description of the program's rationale, development, and implementation is here, and recent news about the program is here.

 

 Immediate access to buprenorphine and rapid placement into treatment are critical when responding to the opioid overdose crisis.

Continuum of Care
Treatment
Harm Reduction
Type of Evidence
Peer-reviewed
Response Approach
Cautious Opioid Prescribing
Medications for Opioid Use Disorder
Post-overdose response
Peer-reviewed Article
Population characteristics and follow-up rates of a novel emergency buprenorphine initiation and referral program
Implementing a Novel Statewide Network to Support Emergency Department-initiated Buprenorphine Treatment
Emergency department interventions for opioid use disorder: A synthesis of emerging models
Management of Opioid Use Disorder in the Emergency Department
Related Resources
A Scalable, Automated Warm Handoff from the Emergency Department to Community Sites Offering Continued Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: Lessons Learned from the EMBED Trial Stakeholders
Hospitals’ Role in Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Buprenorphine in the Emergency Department
A Novel Social Work Approach to Emergency Department Buprenorphine Induction and Warm Hand-Off to Community Providers
Guidelines for Medication for Addiction Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder within the Emergency Department
Improving Access to Evidence-Based Medical Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: Strategies to Address Key Barriers within the Treatment System
Emergency Discharge Protocols for Patients with Substance Use Disorders and Opioid Overdoses in Maryland’s Hospitals
The Washington State Hub and Spoke Model to Increase Access to Medication Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders
Factors that Influence Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment
Shatterproof Report on County Buprenorphine Access in the United States
MATTERS history final copy_1.25.24.pdf

Evidence of Program Effectiveness

"New York State’s Medication Treatment and Electronic Referrals network provides compelling evidence that ED-initiated buprenorphine as a public health approach to addressing the opioid epidemic can be expanded into a scalable intervention model, operating through a broad network of hospitals and community-based clinicians." Clemency et al., 2022

"These five programs (an academic medical center, two large urban hospitals, a rural community hospital, and a community-based program) successfully implemented ED-initiated MOUD. Often a champion with knowledge of OUD treatment and a reliable connection with outpatient treatment began the program. The approach to patient identification varied from universal screening to relying on patient self-identification. Substance use treatment navigators provide crucial services but can be difficult to pay for within current reimbursement frameworks. Barriers to implementation include lack of knowledge about treatment options and effectiveness, stigma, community treatment capacity limits, and health insurance and reimbursement policies. Facilitators of success include taking a patient-centered, low-barrier approach, having a passionate champion, a strong structure with health system support, and a relationship with community partners. Metrics for success vary across programs. Some programs are expanding to include treating the use of other substances such as alcohol and stimulants." Thomas et al., 2022