ORN Summer 2026 - Hospital Addiction Consult Services for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder: Pragmatic Trial of the ‘Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals (CATCH)’ Program-2026-06-24

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar presented findings from the CATCH program, a hospital addiction consult service implemented across six New York City public hospitals to improve care for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Dr. Jennifer McNeely explained that the program was designed to address the major treatment gap for substance use disorders by using hospitalization as an opportunity to start or link patients to medications for OUD (MOUD) and post-discharge care.<br /><br />Using a stepped-wedge trial and Medicaid claims data, the study found that CATCH significantly improved post-discharge MOUD initiation and engagement compared with usual care. Patients in CATCH hospitals were nearly eight times more likely to start MOUD after discharge and almost seven times more likely to engage in follow-up treatment. However, overall initiation remained low, and six-month retention in MOUD did not improve.<br /><br />Dr. Carla King described implementation findings from a multiple case study of the six hospitals. Higher-performing sites were more likely to have a dedicated CATCH lead, a physician or nurse practitioner on staff, shared office space, strong team communication, and pre-existing primary care buprenorphine clinics. Lower-performing sites were more affected by COVID-19 disruptions and were more likely to rely on siloed opioid treatment programs.<br /><br />Qualitative interviews with staff and patients showed that CATCH improved care through better withdrawal management, advocacy, humanizing interactions, and easier access to treatment. Persistent barriers included stigma, insurance problems, housing instability, and limited bridge-to-care resources. Overall, the speakers emphasized that hospital addiction consult services are effective and feasible, but stronger outpatient linkage and retention supports are still needed.

Keywords

CATCH program

hospital addiction consult service

opioid use disorder

medications for OUD

post-discharge treatment

MOUD initiation

stepped-wedge trial

Medicaid claims data

buprenorphine clinics

outpatient linkage