The substance use disorder (SUD) treatment landscape is evolving rapidly. As we move through 2023, organizations delivering care face a combination of challenges and opportunities that will define how patients experience treatment and how providers operate. Executives across the sector have highlighted four key areas shaping this evolution: workforce retention and recruitment, modality flexibility, deeper adoption of data-driven and value-based care, and shifting regulatory frameworks. To better understand these market forces, Behavioral Health Business reached out to top SUD executives with two questions: what will be the defining market forces of 2023 and how will your organization respond? Their insights provide a comprehensive view of the trends shaping Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023.
The Rise of Value-Based Care and Population Health
One of the most significant trends in Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023 is the move toward value-based care and population health. Unlike traditional fee-for-service models, value-based care focuses on improving patient outcomes, fostering long-term patient-provider relationships, and addressing the whole person rather than isolated symptoms.
Corbin Petro, CEO and Co-founder of Eleanor Health, emphasizes the importance of modality flexibility. “While telehealth and virtual care have expanded access, virtual-only models are not sufficient for long-term recovery,” Petro explains. “Patients require personalized care plans and access to multiple treatment modalities. Hybrid approaches—combining in-person and virtual options—will become the standard in 2023.”
Expanding Access Through In-Home and Hybrid Care
The pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual and in-home care, creating new opportunities for patient-centric SUD treatment. Martha Mather, COO of Aware Recovery Care, highlights that outcomes improve when providers engage the whole family, not just the individual. “By working with families, we help them understand the disease concept of addiction and the recovery process,” she explains.
Aware Recovery Care has been pioneering in-home addiction treatment (I-HAT) since 2010. The organization plans to expand into two new states annually, reaching 18 states by 2025. Their model exemplifies how Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023 increasingly focuses on flexible, accessible, and family-inclusive care.
Similarly, Steve Priest, CEO of Spero Health, stresses hybrid care models. “Regulatory changes and patient needs require flexible care delivery. Our hybrid model allows us to meet patients where they are, providing personalized support while remaining compliant with evolving telehealth and prescribing regulations,” he says.
Economic Pressures and Regulatory Shifts
Economic uncertainty remains a defining factor for Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023. Rising inflation, potential recessionary pressures, and labor market fluctuations affect both patient access and operational costs. Kristine Bashore, COO of Caron Treatment Centers, notes that patients often delay seeking care due to financial concerns.
To address this, Caron is expanding in-network agreements, outpatient services, and virtual care offerings. They are also investing in state-of-the-art facilities and full-time clinical staff to manage increasingly complex cases. Caron recently opened The Keele Medical Center in Florida to provide treatment for medically complex patients, including older adults.
Telehealth: Expanding Access and Reducing Barriers
Telemedicine continues to transform Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023 by increasing accessibility and reducing stigma. Ankit Gupta, CEO of Bicycle Health, emphasizes the importance of telehealth for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Legislative changes under the Ryan Haight Act and potential permanent adoption of PHE rules could allow controlled substances to be prescribed via telehealth, saving lives and improving treatment outcomes.
“Telehealth isn’t just a convenience—it’s life-saving,” Gupta says. “By enabling patients to access treatment virtually, we overcome barriers that previously prevented people from seeking care. In 2023, we expect legislation and policy changes to continue driving this transformation.”
Medicaid Redeterminations and Illicit Drug Risks
Colleen Nicewicz, CEO of Groups Recover Together, highlights three major forces shaping Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023:
- Telehealth regulatory rollbacks as pandemic flexibilities expire
- Medicaid redeterminations that may remove coverage for millions of Americans with SUDs
- Rising contamination of the illicit drug supply, particularly fentanyl, alongside increased stimulant and meth use
Groups is expanding its clinical model to address primary diagnoses beyond opioid use, starting with alcohol use disorder pilots, while maintaining flexible hybrid care options.
Workforce Challenges and Staff Retention
Workforce shortages are a major challenge for Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023. David White, CEO of BayMark Health Services, notes that retaining skilled staff requires competitive pay, career development opportunities, and mission-driven culture. BayMark has updated salaries and benefits, implemented career ladders, and invested in advocacy and education to strengthen retention.
Industry Consolidation and Strategic Adaptation
Dr. Tom Britton, CEO of American Addiction Centers (AAC), predicts that 2023 may rival the disruption of COVID years due to workforce shortages, regulatory shifts, and the transition to value-based care. AAC is focusing on workforce development, strategic planning, and enhancing clinical offerings to deliver world-class care and outcomes.
Growing Demand and Tailored Treatment
Acadia Healthcare CEO Chris Hunter emphasizes that rising demand for behavioral health services is a defining feature of Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023. Acadia plans to add approximately 20 comprehensive treatment care locations over the next two years, focusing on whole-person care that addresses both co-occurring mental and physical health conditions and social determinants of health.
Key Market Forces in Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023
Across the industry, executives agree on several defining forces for 2023:
- Hybrid and in-home treatment models are essential to improve outcomes and engagement
- Value-based care and data-driven approaches are reshaping reimbursement and clinical strategy
- Telehealth expansion and regulatory changes continue to influence access and delivery
- Workforce recruitment and retention are critical for maintaining quality care
- Economic uncertainty affects patient access and operational sustainability
- Patients are presenting with more complex medical and mental health needs
- Illicit drug trends, including fentanyl and meth contamination, require flexible, holistic treatment approaches
- Medicaid redeterminations could impact access for vulnerable populations
Looking Ahead
Substance Use Disorder Treatment 2023 will be defined by the ability of providers to adapt and innovate. Hybrid and in-home care models, data-driven value-based care, telehealth integration, workforce development, and patient-centered treatment strategies are no longer optional—they are essential.
Organizations that embrace flexibility, invest in skilled staff, and deliver tailored, outcomes-focused care will be the ones that thrive in this rapidly evolving market.
