Telehealth has become a cornerstone of modern behavioral health care, offering increased access to treatment, especially in rural and underserved communities. But questions remain about the effectiveness of telehealth interventions, particularly for substance use disorders. To address this, UCLA has launched a clinical trial to study the impact of telehealth-based medication-assisted treatment (Tele-MAT) on patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) living in rural areas.
The study is a collaborative effort between UCLA, Hometown Health Center (HHC) in Maine, and Bright Heart Health, a web-based behavioral health provider. HHC, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with two rural locations in Maine, provides medical, dental, and behavioral health services on a sliding scale. The organization has long offered a small medication-assisted treatment program, but rural access and transportation barriers have limited patient participation.
Addressing Access Barriers in Rural Communities
Transportation challenges are a significant obstacle for rural patients seeking behavioral health care, particularly OUD treatment. According to HHC CEO Robin Winslow, telehealth can remove these barriers, enabling patients to connect with counselors directly from home or using devices provided at HHC offices. Patients also have access to 24/7 support, making the care more flexible and continuous.
HHC applied to participate in UCLA’s clinical trial in late 2019 and began enrolling patients in June 2020 after completing the required training. The trial initially includes six patients, with a goal to reach 40 participants by the end of the year. These patients will be part of a five-year study designed to evaluate the impact of telehealth services on OUD treatment outcomes.
How the Tele-MAT Trial Works
Patients enter the trial through HHC’s medical services, where they are screened and evaluated for opioid use disorder. Eligible participants are then enrolled in the Tele-MAT program with Bright Heart Health, which provides a comprehensive online treatment experience. This includes intake and registration, access to prescribing providers for medications such as suboxone or buprenorphine, individual counseling sessions, and group therapy visits.
Bright Heart Health’s platform emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, integrating behavioral therapy and medical management through telehealth. Patients also complete nine surveys during the study and receive $255 in compensation for their participation. HHC collects additional data and submits it to UCLA for analysis.
Goals and Expectations
The primary goal of the study is to determine whether telehealth interventions improve outcomes for rural OUD patients. Researchers will examine a range of metrics, including treatment adherence, substance use reduction, and patient engagement. By combining clinical data with patient-reported outcomes, UCLA hopes to provide evidence that Tele-MAT can be an effective alternative or complement to traditional in-person treatment.
Winslow emphasized the importance of the telehealth component: “The goal is to see if the telehealth component is making a difference with the opioid addiction and really helping the patient.” The study could also offer insights into how telehealth can reduce geographic disparities in access to care, a persistent challenge in rural health systems.
Importance of Tele-MAT in the Pandemic Era
While the clinical trial predates the COVID-19 pandemic, its relevance has only grown. Behavioral health providers across the country have rapidly adopted telehealth solutions in response to social distancing measures, highlighting the need for research on their efficacy. The UCLA trial provides a rare opportunity to gather longitudinal data on Tele-MAT in a controlled study environment.
According to Winslow, the integration of telehealth into existing OUD programs has been seamless. Patients can access care through HHC offices using iPads or from home on their mobile devices, offering flexibility and privacy. This hybrid approach may serve as a model for other rural clinics aiming to expand access to MAT services.
Collaboration Between UCLA, HHC, and Bright Heart Health
The trial exemplifies a strong collaboration between academic researchers, rural health providers, and digital health platforms. UCLA provides research oversight and funding through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), ensuring the study meets rigorous scientific standards. HHC contributes local expertise and patient recruitment, while Bright Heart Health delivers the technological infrastructure and clinical tele-MAT services.
Additionally, the study is conducted in partnership with the Northeast Node of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network at Dartmouth College, which supports research infrastructure and data collection protocols. This collaboration strengthens the trial’s ability to generate meaningful and generalizable results.
Potential Impact on the Behavioral Health Industry
If successful, the study could transform how rural clinics approach OUD treatment. Tele-MAT may reduce barriers to care, improve patient engagement, and increase the number of individuals who complete treatment programs. Findings from the UCLA trial could also inform policy decisions regarding telehealth reimbursement, program funding, and the expansion of virtual treatment options nationwide.
Experts note that rural communities face disproportionately high rates of opioid misuse and overdose, making the development of effective remote interventions urgent. By providing evidence-based guidance on Tele-MAT, the UCLA trial could contribute to a more equitable distribution of behavioral health services.
Future Directions
While the study is still in its early stages, the long-term vision is clear. HHC hopes to expand Tele-MAT services to more patients and potentially integrate other digital behavioral health interventions. The results may also encourage other rural FQHCs to adopt similar models, bridging gaps in care for underserved populations.
Bright Heart Health’s role in the trial demonstrates the potential for technology-driven behavioral health solutions to complement traditional care. By offering remote counseling, medication management, and peer support, digital platforms can make evidence-based interventions accessible to populations that would otherwise face significant barriers.
Conclusion
The UCLA Tele-MAT clinical trial represents a significant step forward in understanding the efficacy of telehealth for opioid use disorder, particularly in rural settings. Through collaboration with HHC and Bright Heart Health, researchers aim to provide concrete evidence on how virtual care can improve patient outcomes and expand access to treatment.
As the behavioral health industry increasingly integrates telehealth into its services, the findings from this study could have wide-reaching implications. Not only could it inform best practices for Tele-MAT, but it could also guide the development of other digital behavioral health interventions designed to reach underserved and hard-to-reach populations.
Ultimately, the trial underscores the potential of combining academic research, clinical expertise, and digital technology to address one of the nation’s most pressing public health challenges. By leveraging telehealth to provide flexible, accessible, and patient-centered care, rural communities may finally have a scalable solution for opioid use disorder treatment that meets their unique needs.
The results, expected over the coming years, will help shape the future of telehealth in behavioral health care and could serve as a model for innovative treatment approaches across the country.
