An Evidence-based, Effective Method to Treat Alcohol and Drug Misuse
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) grades preventive care services for patients and gave a “B” to SBIRT. The task force's study of SBIRT suggests that screening and brief counseling interventions effectively reduce heavy drinking episodes in adults, resulting in the following:
- Reduced alcohol consumption by 3.6 drinks per week
- 12 percent fewer adults reported heavy drinking episodes
- 11 percent more adults reported drinking less than the recommended limits over a 12-month period
SBIRT is endorsed by the National Council for Community Behavioral Health Care, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Billing and Payment
The Oregon Health Authority is standardizing SBIRT billing and payment policies for all payer sources. We must take care to ensure compliance in service delivery and billing for different payers (e.g., Medicare and commercial insurance).
SBIRT coding and billing policies are a work in progress. They vary based on payer. SBIRT is a covered benefit for all Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) patients through a wide range of provider types. Under current policies and regulations, Oregon providers may be eligible for SBIRT reimbursement for most of their patients.