The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities across the United States, with millions of people struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD) every year. Although effective treatments like Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) exist, accessing these services remains a challenge for many, particularly those living in rural or underserved areas. One company, PursueCare, is aiming to change the landscape of addiction recovery with a groundbreaking approach: a remote, integrated MAT model that makes it easier for patients to access the care they need, when they need it.
Founded in 2019, Middletown, Connecticut-based PursueCare is a tech-enabled health services startup designed to help combat the opioid crisis. The company’s mission is simple but crucial: to provide more accessible, effective, and holistic addiction treatment solutions to individuals suffering from opioid use disorder. With a new, innovative remote treatment model now launched in Kentucky and West Virginia, PursueCare is taking a major step forward in its goal of curbing the opioid epidemic and ensuring that people who need help can receive treatment without the usual barriers of stigma, inconvenience, and lack of access.
The Problem: Gaps in Addiction Treatment Access
In many areas of the United States, addiction treatment options are severely limited. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), rural communities and underserved areas often face critical shortages of addiction treatment providers, with long waitlists and scarce resources. Even for those who do have access to care, logistical and financial barriers can make it difficult to follow through on treatment.
Moreover, many individuals struggling with opioid use disorder face an additional hurdle: stigma. The societal stigma surrounding addiction can discourage people from seeking treatment in the first place, and those who do seek help often find themselves facing judgmental attitudes and negative assumptions. These stigmas can be particularly potent in smaller communities, where everyone knows each other and the perception of addiction as a moral failing can prevent people from reaching out for help.
PursueCare aims to address these barriers with a model that combines technology and personalized, remote care to make addiction treatment more accessible and convenient for people in need.
The New Remote, Integrated MAT Model
PursueCare’s innovative MAT model is designed to provide patients with the treatment they need while minimizing the obstacles traditionally associated with addiction care. The company’s approach begins at points-of-care that may not offer outpatient addiction treatment or that struggle to provide comprehensive services, such as emergency departments, rural health clinics, or family practices. This makes it easier for patients to begin treatment without needing to navigate complex or fragmented healthcare systems.
Once a patient begins treatment, PursueCare takes the process into the patient’s home. Using a smartphone app and video conferencing technology, patients can receive their prescribed medications, counseling, and pharmacy services remotely. The convenience of telehealth allows individuals to participate in their treatment from the comfort of their own homes, which is especially important for people living in rural areas where addiction treatment centers might be few and far between.
This remote treatment model mirrors the more traditional in-person MAT approach, which typically includes medication (such as buprenorphine or methadone), counseling, and behavioral therapy to support long-term recovery. However, PursueCare adds a crucial element of flexibility and personalization by offering a fully remote, tech-enabled version that allows patients to access care in a way that fits their schedules and lifestyles.
Each treatment plan is customized to meet the individual needs of the patient, and prescriptions are delivered to their homes via a mail-order pharmacy. PursueCare partners with major health systems, including emergency departments, family practices, and rural health clinics, to provide seamless addiction care without the need for additional infrastructure or internal resources.
“We’re able to make addiction treatment accessible, personal, and convenient by combining technology with evidence-based practices,” said Nick Mercadante, CEO and co-founder of PursueCare. “Substance use disorder is a disease that requires consistent, holistic medical treatment. We’re working to eliminate barriers to that care and to create a more effective, supportive treatment experience for those who need it most.”
Addressing the Challenges of Access and Stigma
The goal of PursueCare’s remote, integrated MAT model is to break down the most common barriers that individuals with OUD face when seeking treatment. These barriers include:
- Lack of Access to Treatment: For many individuals, the nearest addiction treatment center might be far away, creating a significant transportation barrier. PursueCare’s model eliminates this obstacle by enabling patients to receive care at home, without needing to travel to a clinic or treatment facility.
- Fractured Treatment Options: Traditional addiction treatment can be fragmented, with patients required to navigate multiple providers and locations for different aspects of their care. PursueCare offers a fully integrated solution, where medication, counseling, and pharmacy services are all provided through a single platform.
- Stigma and Inconvenience: The stigma surrounding addiction can discourage individuals from seeking help, especially in small, close-knit communities. PursueCare’s remote model allows patients to receive care privately and discreetly, from the comfort of their own homes.
In addition to these barriers, PursueCare also offers a more streamlined and flexible treatment experience. The ability to use telemedicine for counseling and support makes it easier for patients to engage in their treatment plan without the time commitment or disruption that traditional in-person appointments might require.
Partnerships with Health Systems
A key component of PursueCare’s success is its ability to collaborate with established healthcare providers. By partnering with health system emergency departments, rural health clinics, and family practices, PursueCare can offer addiction treatment to patients without requiring additional resources from its partner organizations.
“We’re working with health systems to deliver the right kind of addiction care without putting any strain on their internal resources or infrastructure,” said Mercadante. “By partnering with health systems that already have a vested interest in patient health, we can help these providers extend their reach and bring MAT into the homes of patients who otherwise wouldn’t have access.”
PursueCare’s services are billed to patient insurance, and the company is in-network with most commercial insurance providers as well as state Medicaid managed care programs. This ensures that the model remains affordable and accessible to a wide range of patients, regardless of their financial situation.
Expanding the Reach: A National Growth Strategy
The rollout of PursueCare’s remote MAT model in Kentucky and West Virginia is just the beginning. The company has an ambitious growth strategy in place, with plans to expand its services to additional states in the coming years.
In 2020, PursueCare is opening a physical clinic in Somerset, Kentucky, to offer more intensive services for patients who need in-person treatment. The company also plans to introduce similar programs in Connecticut, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Vermont.
By expanding its reach, PursueCare hopes to bring its innovative treatment model to even more individuals affected by opioid use disorder, particularly those in underserved or rural areas who may otherwise struggle to find the care they need.
Conclusion
PursueCare is on the cutting edge of addiction treatment, offering a remote, integrated medication-assisted treatment model that combines the power of technology with evidence-based care. The company’s innovative approach addresses critical barriers like access, stigma, and inconvenience, providing patients with a more flexible, personalized, and holistic way to recover from opioid use disorder. With a national growth strategy in place, PursueCare is poised to make a significant impact on the opioid epidemic and provide more people with the care they need to rebuild their lives.
