WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia, a mission-based Medicaid managed care plan serving more than 100,000 residents of the District of Columbia (D.C.), and CleanSlate Centers, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for opioid and alcohol addiction, announced today they have signed an agreement that will give AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia members increased access to addiction treatment.
Opioid overdose deaths in the nation’s capital have nearly tripled from 83 in 2014 to 231 in 2016. Many of those deaths, caused by overdoses of heroin and the synthetic painkiller fentanyl, have occurred in Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8. CleanSlate’s new treatment center is located in Ward 8 at 2041 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, Suite 400.1
During the July 2017 Regional Opioid and Substance Abuse Summit, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced plans for expanded access to medication-assisted treatment that combines counseling with medications that block drug cravings to save lives. CleanSlate’s buprenorphine- and depo-naltrexone-based medication treatment programs offer greater flexibility in outpatient treatment visits to the D.C. community, which has traditionally been served predominantly by methadone clinics requiring daily visits.2
“CleanSlate brings expanded treatment choices to D.C. through our new center, our medical teams uniquely trained to treat addiction, and our new agreement with AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia,” said Gregory Marotta, president and CEO of CleanSlate Centers. “CleanSlate has successfully treated tens of thousands of patients across the country, and now we will be able to care for more people and make a meaningful difference in our nation’s capital.”
“We welcome the opportunity to work with CleanSlate and make medication-assisted treatment more accessible,” said Karen Dale, market president for AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia. “Integration of behavioral and physical health care is central to our care management model, and this new relationship helps us to further integrate services while also giving members increased access to treatment and a higher likelihood of recovery."
“Our medical team strives to meet the unique needs of every patient, providing evidence-based care with both compassion and understanding,” said Maria Russo-Appel, M.D., eastern division medical director for CleanSlate. “We are pleased to work with AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia to provide relief to communities that have been hit hard by the epidemic.”
In the battle against the addiction epidemic, CleanSlate has treated nearly 30,000 patients and counting, saving one valued life at a time. Its program of care, which includes appropriate medication-assisted treatment prescribed by trained medical providers with clear accountability and supportive counseling, sets the group apart from other treatment models.
For information about the Washington D.C. center, please call (202) 787-3501 or visit www.cleanslatecenters.com. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-833-505-HOPE.
About AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia
AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia, a member of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, is a Medicaid managed care health plan dedicated to helping members get care, stay well and build healthy communities. Headquartered in the District, AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia addresses social risk factors impacting health, leverages robust member engagement strategies to increase rates of preventive care, and utilizes programs to support health and wellness for the vulnerable populations it serves. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com.
About CleanSlate Centers
A pioneer and leader in outpatient addiction medicine, CleanSlate Centers is a national medical group which provides treatment for the chronic disease of addiction, primarily opioid and alcohol use disorders. Founded in 2009 in response to the growing opioid epidemic facing the country, the company operates a growing network of physician-led, office-based addiction treatment centers, where patients with opioid or alcohol addiction can receive medication-assisted treatment and related therapies using the highest quality, evidence-based practices. CleanSlate currently has a national footprint of 45 centers in eight states and the District of Columbia, with more centers opening every month to meet the demand for the company’s services. For more information, please visit www.cleanslatecenters.com.
1 Chason, Rachel. “Community health leaders say D.C. isn’t doing enough to curb opioid overdoses.” The Washington Post. August 20, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/community-health-leaders-say-dc-isnt-doing-enough-to-curb-opioid-overdoses/2017/08/20/6942aba4-8130-11e7-ab27-1a21a8e006ab_story.html?utm_term=.85368b2a42c2. Last accessed March 19, 2018.
2 “Mayor Bowser Highlights District’s Efforts to Prevent Opioid Addiction and Overdose.” Executive Office of the Mayor. July 14, 2017. https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-highlights-district%E2%80%99s-efforts-prevent-opioid-addiction-and-overdose. Last accessed March 19, 2018.
