Ophelia

Released this November, The American Medical Association's 2024 Overdose Epidemic Report highlights progress in harm reduction services and evidence-based care. Still, it emphasizes the urgent need for stronger actions to address the nation’s ongoing overdose crisis, which continues at near-historic levels. While opioid prescriptions have decreased significantly, and naloxone access has expanded, barriers to lifesaving treatments like buprenorphine and methadone and outdated policies continue to cost lives. The AMA calls on policymakers to prioritize meaningful reforms, enforce parity laws, and expand access to medications and harm reduction initiatives to save lives and support individuals with substance use disorders or pain. Read the full report https://lnkd.in/emM2j93y

Spotlight on Remote Prescribing Safety at ATA EDGE 2024! Join us for "Ensuring Safety: The Future of Remote Prescribing for Controlled Substances" and dive into the critical intersection of innovation, regulation, and patient care. 🩺💊 Hear from experts Jessica Rigsby, JD, CHC (Ophelia), Stuart Blitz (Hone Health), and Brian Clear (Bicycle Health) as they tackle best practices, regulatory hurdles, and strategies to deliver safe and effective telehealth prescribing in today's healthcare landscape. 📅 Don’t miss this must-attend session at #ATAEDGE 2024! 👉 Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/enDdBcVQ #Telehealth #RemotePrescribing #HealthcareInnovation #PatientSafety #ATAEDGE Paul Samargedlis Melissa Park Kyle Zebley Alexis Apple DeAnna Grosbaum Nancy M. Green

We are thrilled to announce a significant expansion of Ophelia’s mission to make evidence-based, low threshold treatment a reality for everyone. Effective immediately, Ophelia is accepting 100% of Medicaid plans in Pennsylvania. This milestone means that any PA resident with Medicaid can now access our comprehensive, telehealth services with no out-of-pocket costs.

Drug Enforcement Administration has officially extended all telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances without an in person visit through the end of next year. "2024 was the year we began to turn the tide on the #opioid epidemic, and the data points to #telehealth as a driving force. As long as we can count on the government to make informed decisions, addiction treatment will continue to move online until all Americans have access to reimbursable evidence-based care." Zack Gray https://lnkd.in/eQRCSXVe

Happy National Nurse Practitioner Week! We're ending the week with a huge THANK YOU as we celebrate the remarkable contributions of our nurse practitioners, who are essential in delivering compassionate, high-quality care to our patients. Thank you for your dedication, expertise, and the personal touch you bring to every interaction. Thank you for all you do!

After overwhelming demand and a whopping seven past successful sessions, we're excited to offer another free, virtual 8-hour training on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) on November 20th. This is in collaboration of PCSS, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and more. This session is designed to empower healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to provide evidence-based support to those struggling with opioid addiction. Don’t miss your chance to join us for this impactful training. Click below to reserve your spot today! https://lnkd.in/egMh5MbY

We know getting treatment for #opioidusedisorder, especially via your phone, can be intimidating. Ashley Mazei addresses some of the most common fears she hears from patients and shares how Ophelia works to create a compassionate, evidence-based environment that empowers people to take their first steps into treatment.

Ophelia is excited to be attending the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) conference next week. This gathering is an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from state leaders and experts on pressing issues affecting our communities. We look forward to engaging in conversations around impactful solutions and exploring how Ophelia can support ongoing efforts to address the opioid epidemic in their states. Will you be going? Reach out to Lexie Minarik and Arthur Robin Williams MD who will be in attendance.

As #Halloween approaches, you might be remembering the headlines around this time last year when the DEA issued a press release warning about “rainbow fentanyl.” #Rainbowfentanyl is the exact same drug as #fentanyl, just dyed a different color. While the DEA posited that rainbow fentanyl was being used to entice children and teens into adopting a dangerous habit, there was no particular evidence for this claim. Stories of drugs being given to kids out trick-or-treating seem to pop up every Halloween, but there is rarely ever any proof to support them. Additionally, these stories ignore the fact that the goal of the drug trade is profit—and children typically don’t have this type of disposable income. What’s more likely is that rainbow fentanyl is being used to give the drug a flashy new look and make it more appealing to those who already use it. “Most importantly, fentanyl is not a problem exclusive to Halloween. It is now a problem year-round,” writes Arthur Robin Williams MD Williams, M.D., Ophelia’s Chief Medical Officer. Read more about Williams’ thoughts on rainbow fentanyl here. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eAQ6R4Ni

At Ophelia, your voice matters. Your stories inspire us to deliver compassionate, effective treatment. Thank you for trusting us every step of the way!