ASAM Year In Review: 2014

During 2014, ASAM worked to connect, advocate, educate and communicate the latest information on research, treatment and practice in addiction medicine. Highlights captured in ASAM’s first annual  report include making significant impact on addiction policy affecting the practice of addiction medicine and reaching thousands of new clinicians through live and online education, publications and newsletters. 

In support of addiction practice, ASAM advocated around the nation to reduce treatment barriers such as prior authorizations and dosage limitations. ASAM published an outreach toolkit to help members advocate for removing treatment limits and an  documenting state Medicaid fee-for-service coverage for addiction medications that was  cited in articles by the New England Journal of Medicine, and in reports issued by advocacy and policy groups, including Trust for America’s Health, the National Association of Medicaid Directors and the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review.  

In 2014, ASAM continued its support of the implementation of mental health and addiction parity, and helped publish a  that can help consumers, providers and advocates learn how to better communicate with plans, and understand basic appeal rights and procedures.  ASAM also joined other groups to support federal legislation, including the TREAT Act, which would lift the prescribing limit on buprenorphine, and the CARE Act, to provide a comprehensive response to the twin epidemics of opioid and heroin addiction.  ASAM members were more active than ever in 2014, presenting testimony on Capitol Hill and around the nation. ASAM was able to support these efforts by providing members with live and virtual media training for members.  

In 2014, ASAM continued to set standards of treatment and care and disseminate research through its Principles of Addiction Medicine (fifth edition in 2014), The ASAM Criteria and Journal of Addiction Medicine, with continuing focus on quality improvement. ASAM engaged in quality improvement by releasing its “Standards of Care: For the Addiction Specialist Physician.” ASAM also published an expert Panel report “Safe Methadone Induction and Stabilization” and an updated policy statement “Use of Naloxone for the prevention of Drug Overdose Deaths.” And, ASAM launched an effort to create a practice guideline on medications to treat opioid addiction—the guideline will be available this fall. 

ASAM reached farther than ever before with content about addiction treatment through its newsletters, publications and courses. ASAM now reaches 16,000 individuals each week through ; and, through its online and live courses, ASAM offered more than 630 Continuing Medical Education credits that were accessed by more than 3,400 physicians and 3,100 non-physicians. The 2014 Annual Conference and Pre-conference in Orlando, with more than 1,200 attendees, offered two new courses, as well as a specialized two-part course on Clinical Drug Testing, with both the Conference and Pre-conference courses being approved by ABAM for Part II MOC credit.  ASAM also launched The ASAM Fundamentals of Addiction Medicine curriculum, which includes live and online components and which is targeted to primary care providers.  In addition, ASAM released the fifth edition of Principles of Addiction Medicine, an invaluable resource for clinicians preparing to certify or re-certify in addiction medicine.  Access ASAM conference materials and get CMEs from 2014 here. 

Read the full Year-in-Review to learn more about ASAM’s 2014 accomplishments. These successes would not be possible without the generous support of members. Consider making a  to help ASAM continue its mission. . Finally, ASAM is always looking for ideas and feedback on how to best support the field of addiction medicine -- let ASAM know what you think the society should focus on in 2015 and beyond and do not hesitate to contact ASAM anytime.