Federal Bureau of Prisons Partners for Virtual Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
A new initiative of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) and Wellpath will offer access to Bicycle Health’s virtual Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) services to individuals living in the FBOP’s Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs).
Wellpath provides medical and mental healthcare services for over 300,000 patients daily in nearly 600 facilities, including prisons, jails, state hospitals, forensic treatment, and civil commitment centers. Bicycle Health’s virtual care model consists of a combination of telehealth visits, medication management, access to peer support groups and psychotherapy, and regular in-home diagnostics testing.
Bicycle Health’s virtual treatment model, which the company says has shown patient retention rates that are appreciably higher and no-show rates that are significantly lower than in-person averages, will deliver behavioral care to a population in need. The collaboration between Bicycle Health and Wellpath will provide improved access to MOUD in RRCs across 42 states, with plans to expand. Bicycle Health and Wellpath plan to grow the service to meet the recovery needs of formerly incarcerated patients – to improve their health, the overall health of the community, and reduce recidivism.
Medications like buprenorphine – an FDA-approved medication that limits painful opioid withdrawal symptoms, helps prevent overdose, and supports long-term recovery – have been widely successful at curbing opioid use. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has found that MOUD treatment regimens are significantly underutilized in criminal justice settings. The primary goal of this collaboration is to improve availability and clinically appropriate utilization of MOUD among this underserved patient population.
“Nearly one in five incarcerated people struggle with opioid use disorder, and unfortunately, opioid-related overdose is the leading cause of death for those released from jail or prison,” said Justin Guadagno, chief commercial officer at Bicycle Health, in a statement. “Our collaboration with Wellpath creates an entirely new, scalable approach to rehabilitation that will give people a fighting chance to achieve long-term recovery when they re-enter society.”
“Telehealth is now well understood to be a widespread, highly effective treatment delivery option for patients with opioid use disorder, which is why we chose to work with Bicycle Health. In doing so, we’re able to overcome many of the obstacles that prevent formerly incarcerated people from getting the MOUD treatment they need,” said Thomas Pangburn, M.D., chief clinical officer at Wellpath, in a statement. “This collaboration helps streamline the process for re-entry by providing evidence-based and convenient treatment options, which can make a real difference for those struggling with opioid addiction.”
