Why does long-acting medication use range from 5% to 30% across states?
The answer isn’t clinical, it’s systemic. Without standardized measures, providers lack the visibility to know where they stand and how to improve.
Improving Utilization of Long-acting Medications: Toward Standardized Measures, the National Council Medical Director Institute’s groundbreaking new report, changes things.
What Gets Measured Gets Done
For too long, long-acting medications (LAMs) have been underutilized despite strong evidence of their superior outcomes compared to oral medications. This report provides the first-ever standardized performance benchmarks that make practice patterns visible and drive systematic improvement.
Evidence-based Benchmarks You Can Implement Now
• Antipsychotic LAMs: 30% initiation with 85% continuation to second dose
• Opioid Use Disorder LAMs: 10% initiation with 80% continuation
• Alcohol Use Disorder LAMs: 10% initiation with 60% continuation
Who Should Read This Report
This is essential reading for psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical directors and quality improvement teams prescribing medications for psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder, as well as policy makers and administrators responsible for behavioral health care delivery systems, including Medicaid and Medicare authorities, managed care organizations and pharmacy benefit management organizations.
This report gives you the data you need for meaningful peer discussions and continuous improvement.
Download Improving Utilization of Long-acting Medications: Toward Standardized Measures and start implementing these benchmarks in your practice today.