Addiction should be considered a biopsychosocialspiritual illness, for which the use of medications is only one component of overall treatment. The six assessment dimensions of the asam criteria. Guiding principles of the asam criteria, third edition, 20 with additions for treatment courts individualized treatment for the typical drug court participant with high criminogenic needs and related risk factors, treatment designed to enhance intrinsic motivation, improve insight, and develop new skills is also likely to be needed. Does the patient have supports to assist in ambulatory detoxification if medically safe. Asams criteria guides clinicians to assess all dimensions of addiction and recovery and then use a wellde. While the asam criteria, 20 addresses cooccurring disorders within every loc throughout the continuum of care asam, p. The asam criteria is a collection of objective guidelines that give clinicians a way to standardize treatment planning and where patients are placed in treatment, as well as how to provide continuing, integrated care and ongoing service planning. An introduction to the asam criteria for patients and families. Tips to get your clinical authorization approved by the ime. The asam criteria treatment criteria for addictive, substancerelated, and cooccurring conditions david meelee, md chief editor of the asam criteria boardcertified psychiatrist abam certified sr. The asam criteria an overview of asam s criteria and continuum the asam criteria decision engine ohio department of mental health and addiction services. Ddap asam criteria guidance regarding treatment planning.
Asam level of care loc determination guidelines 1 of 2 as emergency needs come first, the highest severity problem with specific attention to dimensions 1, 2 and 3 should guide the clients entry point into the treatment continuum. The american society of addiction medicine asam criteria is an evidence based template to determine the appropriate level of substance use disorder. Society of addiction medicine, asam ppc2r, asam patient placement criteria for the. The following are the six dimensions of asam mt dphhs. Dimensions problemspriorities severity of illnesslof plan intensity of services. Asam criteria background in the late 1980s a taskforce is assembled to integrate existing admission and continued stay criteria both naatp and asam were involved ownership of the criteria was left with.
Asam level of care loc determination guidelines 1 of 2. Understanding continued service and discharge criteria the asam criteria 20, pp 299306 after the admission criteria for a given level of care have been met, the criteria for continued service. This document is to be utilized in applying the american society of addiction medicine asam criteria, 20 within pennsylvanias treatment system when conducting a level of care assessment for initial referral into services or for continued stay and discharge considerations after treatment engagement. The criteria were developed by the american society of addiction medicine asam, and presented in a book written by a group of renowned doctors and. Asam criteria dimensions as regards pertinent assessment data organized under the three hs history, here and now, how worried now. Must meet the asam criteria definition levelofcare of medical necessity for services based on the asam criteria. The criteria were developed by the american society of addiction medicine asam. The asam criteria structures multidimensional assessment around the six dimensions to provide a common language of holistic, biopsychosocial assessment and treatment across addiction treatment, physical health, and mental health services, which also addresses the spiritual issues relevant in recovery. If the patients only severity is in dimension 4, 5, and or 6 without high severity in dimensions 1,2 andor 3, then the patient does not quality for level 4 problems in this dimension do not qualify the patient for level 4 services. The asam criteria, with a brief description of each one. Clients who are not experiencing or at risk of acute withdrawal e. The asam national practice guideline for the use of. Asam s six assessment dimensions address this guiding principle.
The asam criteria and addiction treatment matching naadac. If the patients only severity is in dimension 4, 5, and or 6 without high severity in dimensions 1,2 andor 3, then the. The information provided here will help you best implement asam s criteria. As indicated in the asam criteria, 20, page 110, progress in all the dimensions should be assessed at regular intervals to ensure comprehensive and appropriate treatment. Using the asam dimension to inform treatment o immediate needs due to imminent risk o choosing specific focus and determining what intensity of these services is needed for each dimension the asam criteria.
The following are the six dimensions of asam, and how they are defined by the american society of addiction medicine, asam ppc2r, asam patient placement criteria for the treatment of substance related disorders, 2nd edition revised, david mee lee, m. Emotionalbehavioral conditions problem need patient reports evidences of possible depressive symptoms patient reports unresolved lossgrief issues due to deaths in immediate family patient has a history of poor anger management patient has a history of illicit behavior which has led to legal problems. Amended or additional treatment plans should be included. Use tool to assist in transfer and discharge planning to assess the patients progress with treatment goals across each of the six asam dimensions and four criteria for discharge or transfer. The asam criteria is the most widely used and comprehensive set of guidelines for placement, continued stay, transfer, or discharge of patients with addiction. The description of services provided at high intensity residential asam level 3. This may or may not be done as a formal update as indicated by regulation, depending upon the. Asam dimensions and three criteria for continuing services. The asam criteria the asam criteria is the nations most widely used and comprehensive set of guidelines for placement, continued stay, and transferdischarge of patients with addiction and cooccurring conditions. The following are the six dimensions of asam, and how they. Nonstandard, intuitive, then find out the rest later managed care wants more data. Asam s criteria, formerly known as the asam patient placement criteria, is the result of a collaboration that began in the 1980s to define one national set of criteria for providing outcomeoriented and resultsbased care in the treatment of addiction.
Looking at the six dimensions in the asam criteria, it is evident that the criteria can serve a much broader use than just for the addictive recovery community. The american society of addiction medicine asam criteria is an evidencebased template to determine the appropriate level of substance use disorder intervention for an individual. Emotional, behavioral, cognitive conditions or complications dimension 4. Treatment criteria for addictive, substancerelated, and co occurring conditions, p. The new asam criteria for the treatment of addictive. Implications for adult problem solving courts david meelee, m. Dimension 1 sample questions are there current signs of withdrawal. The asam criteria asam has developed a standardized set of criteria that can be used for assessing any individual for appropriateness in addictions therapy placement. The history of a clients past signs, symptoms and treatment is important, but never overrides the here and. An introduction to the asam criteria for patients and families aetna. Low risk ratings do not justify approval for extended care at this level of care. Take a quick look at how asams criteria works asam continuum. Guiding principles of asam criteria moving from limited number of levels of care to broad and flexible continuum of care identifying specific needs of adolescents clarifying goals of treatment fees, t.
Today the criteria have become the most widely used and comprehensive set of guidelines for. This confidential information is provided to you in accord with state and federal laws. Treatment criteria for addictive, substancerelated, and cooccurring conditions adult levels of care dimension 1. Asam dimension 3 emotionalbehavioral conditions lcdc. Asam 6 dimension patient placement evaluation completed prior to admission showing evidence of asam 6 dimension impairment criteria are met for asam level 2. Moving from programdriven to clinically driven and outcomesdriven treatment rather than focusing on placement in a program, with a fixed length of stay, the asam criteria. Asam criteria a training an introduction to the application of asam criteria. Treatment criteria for addictive, substancerelated, and cooccuring conditions the asam criteria 3. Has the patient been using multiple substances in the same drug class. Use asam risk rating criteria language to justify loc extension request in the asam dimensions presented in the comment box.
Understand the clinical and costeffective benefits of utilizing the asam criteria 2 know the six dimensions utilized to assess medical necessity and patient need profiles 3 identify and recognize distinguishing characteristics of the recognized asam levels of. Understanding and using asam criteria in substance use. Based on the six dimensions of the asam criteria, asam continuum conducts a dimensional analysis to identify the intensity of treatment. Today the criteria have become the most widely used set of guidelines for placement, continued stay and transferdischarge of patients with addiction and co. Treatment of substance related disorders, 2nd edition revised. It does not dictate a particular standard of care or speciic treatment decisions. Treatment professionals are responsible for the care of their patients and must make independent judgments about whether and how to use. Acute intoxication or withdrawal potential complications dimension 2.
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