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Problem Tech Solves
Tech Brief
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) among people 26 and older has doubled since 2017, from 10 million to 22 million. Recent evidence shows that COVID-19 led to a surge in alcohol-related deaths of nearly 25% in 2020 and 22% in 2021 when compared with projected rates. Excessive alcohol use contributes to costly and life-shortening diseases such as liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke and cancer. Unfortunately, only about 7% of people with AUD receive any treatment, and less than 1% receive medication-assisted therapy, despite decades of peer-reviewed evidence of its efficacy and availability. As a center of excellence, Ria Health is 100% dedicated to AUD and relies on evidence of what works in reducing harm from AUD. The Ria Health Program comprises: 1) Medication-assisted therapy to reduce cravings; 2) Psychosocial support from registered recovery coaches, groups with fellow program participants, and connections with family or healthcare professionals via the Ria Health app; 3) Medical evaluation and management from board-certified doctors, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and medical assistants; 4) Accountability and reinforcement from regular breath analysis as a result of members using proprietary technology, an app-connected, Bluetooth-enabled breathalyzer; 5) Commitment to a “harm reduction” approach that acknowledges the benefits of members choosing their goal: abstinence or moderation; 6) Cost-effective, with an annual cost of $4,200 vs. $7,000 to $25,000 for other treatment programs; 7) Convenience, privacy, and confidentiality, made possible by telehealth. Ria Health Program members on average reduce their breath alcohol content by 50% after one month and 75% after one year.
Tech Differentiators
Individuals with AUD cite insurance coverage, cost, access to and awareness of flexible treatment options, and stigma associated with abstinence as barriers to their getting help. Harm reduction for substances like opioids includes treatment to achieve abstinence, while AUD patients’ goals may reflect abstinence or drinking less. In a recent survey, 68% of respondents preferred an AUD specialist compared to a broader addiction program. Offering members a focused AUD program increases receptiveness to undergo treatment, decreases reticence of members to enroll out of fear of stigma, and achieves higher-quality outcomes for individuals with AUD. Ria Health’s key differentiator is its specialization in AUD, which leads to higher quality outcomes as a result.
Validation
Ria Health has helped more than 5,000 patients improve their relationship with alcohol. Ria Health patient data shows more than 70% reduce WHO risk drinking levels within one month and 85% reduce WHO drinking levels within 12 months. A reduction in WHO alcohol risk drinking levels result in a 10% improvement in liver enzymes and 4% improvement in systolic blood pressure. The average patient stays engaged in the Ria Health Program for 10.5 months, exceeding the average persistence in programs lacking a comprehensive MAT approach. Ria Health is conducting financial impact studies based on two years of patient treatment data from Anthem and Optum. With their permission we will share the financial data with interested health plans.
