MAT Member Handbook_09302026

Member Responsibilities (continued) Notifying CODAC staff if you are admitted to a medical facility and, when returning, providing discharge paperwork. Not providing discharge paperwork may prevent the clinic’s ability to resume your medication dosing. If pregnant, members are responsible for receiving regular prenatal care and informing CODAC staff immediately after learning that you are pregnant so that we can properly manage your medications. Receiving an annual TB test or screening. Receiving an annual EKG. At the discretion of the Medical Director or BHMP, an EKG screening may be performed more frequently based on a member’s methadone dose and cardiac risk profile. Following through with directions from the Medical Director for serious medical problems or contagious diseases. EKG Benefits 1.An EKG (electrocardiogram) is an important safety tool used during methadone treatment to monitor the heart’s electrical activity and identify any cardiac abnormalities. 2.Obtaining an EKG helps providers detect QTc prolongation early, assess individual cardiac risk, and make informed treatment decisions to promote member safety while maintaining the benefits of methadone therapy. Regular monitoring can identify changes before serious complications occur. 3.Failure to obtain an annual or recommended EKG may result in unrecognized cardiac abnormalities and an increased risk of serious complications, including dangerous arrhythmias, syncope, cardiac events, and, in rare cases, death. EKG monitoring is, therefore, an essential component of safe and effective methadone treatment. About Medications for Opioid Use Disorder The FDA has approved specific medications for opioid use disorder: methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex, Brixadi, Sublocade) and naltrexone (Vivitrol). Both methadone and buprenorphine are some of the most highly effective medications in modern medicine. When taken daily, they are shown to prevent the rate of relapse, overdose and death from causes other than overdose by 40-60%! They have also been demonstrated to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Vivitrol is a monthly long-acting injectable medication that can also be used in the treatment of opioid, stimulant and alcohol use disorders. It is unique in that it is an opioid blocker. The daily oral formulation is not approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). It is not frequently used in the treatment of OUD as patients must be opiate-free for 10-14 days before starting the medication. It cannot be combined with methadone, suboxone or any other form of opiates. Doing so will precipitate withdrawal.

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