Ann Arbor Times

A new service aimed at providing same-day treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) will begin operating on September 29. The initiative, called the OPEN Warmline, was developed by the University of Michigan’s Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN) with a $1.5 million grant from the state of Michigan. This effort comes in response to a public health crisis that has led to 12,800 fatal overdoses in Michigan since 2020.

The OPEN Warmline is designed to connect individuals with OUD to buprenorphine, a medication proven effective in treating opioid addiction. Initially, the service will be available to people recently released from or under supervision of the Michigan Department of Corrections. Plans are in place to expand access to all residents across Michigan at a later date.

Calls made during business hours will be answered by healthcare professionals who can facilitate same-day telehealth prescribing for buprenorphine. Insurance is not required for those seeking care through this service.

“Being able to streamline their paths toward recovery is a primary goal of this work,” said Amy Bohnert, co-director of OPEN and U-M’s Opioid Research Institute. “Access to timely, evidence-based and patient-centered care is critical for those living with opioid use disorder.”

The warmline builds on models from other states and includes support from care navigators, nurse care managers, peer recovery coaches, and medical providers. The program is run in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Packard Health.

Buprenorphine has been shown to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings as well as cut overdose death risk by half among people using opioids.

“As a buprenorphine provider, I see the transformative impact of this medication on patients living with OUD every day,” said Eliza Hutchinson, physician director of the OPEN Warmline and medical director at Packard Health. “I also know that we are missing opportunities to connect many more Michiganders to this lifesaving treatment with our existing care models. In particular, we know that patients are seven times more likely to start buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder if given an appointment on the same day. The OPEN Warmline is designed to address this gap, meeting patients at the moment they feel motivated to seek care.”

Bohnert emphasized that the program focuses on nonjudgmental support: “The team embraces a patient-centered approach and sees a patient’s return to use not as a failure, but as a chance to reassess a patient’s goals and ensure that the best care is being administered,” she said. “Through the OPEN Warmline, patients will always be welcomed back, if needed, and celebrated for their successes.”