PCSS-MAUD Webinar: Telemedicine and Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder-Slides

Slides

Pdf Summary

This webinar by Greg Jaffe, MD, focused on using telemedicine to improve treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) with medications for AUD (MAUD). It explained that AUD is common, but treatment is underused: many people are not diagnosed, few receive care, and only a small fraction receive FDA-approved medications. The presentation reviewed the three approved medications: naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram, with naltrexone highlighted as having the strongest evidence.<br /><br />The talk emphasized that telemedicine can expand access, reduce transportation and stigma barriers, improve retention, and support screening, follow-up, relapse prevention, and medication monitoring. Telehealth was described as especially useful for rural patients, working adults, caregivers, and patients already connected to primary care or behavioral health. It is less suitable for patients needing medically supervised withdrawal, those with unstable medical conditions, pregnancy, severe cognitive or psychiatric impairment, or those without reliable internet/phone access.<br /><br />Practical guidance covered setting up a telemedicine MAUD practice: use a HIPAA-compliant platform, document patient and clinician location and consent, and understand billing and legal requirements. The speaker noted that AUD medications are not controlled substances, so they can generally be prescribed without an in-person visit, while controlled substances like gabapentin have additional requirements in some states. The presentation also highlighted coordination with primary care and behavioral health, and having clear escalation plans if a patient decompensates.<br /><br />A case example illustrated diagnosis, medication selection, mental health screening, lab monitoring, and follow-up via telemedicine. Key takeaways: MAUD is safe and effective but rarely prescribed; telehealth can improve access and initiation; and telemedicine works best when integrated into SBIRT, primary care, and behavioral health systems.

Keywords

telemedicine

alcohol use disorder

medications for AUD

naltrexone

acamprosate

disulfiram

telehealth access

SBIRT

primary care

behavioral health