Massachusetts Expands Access To Office-Based Addiction Treatment Through Its Nurse Care Manager Model

Teams of doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants providing substance use disorder (SUD) care can expand access to such services under the Nurse Care Manager (NCM) model.

When a consumer is screened by the NCM team and flagged for SUD follow-up, a physician or other authorized prescriber confirms the diagnosis and prescribes buprenorphine, if indicated. The model enables prescribers to see more patients and expand access to care.

Massachusetts funds the NCM model through a mix of Medicaid reimbursement, state general funds, and federal dollars—including the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant and the State . . .