Centers of Excellence Learning Network

The Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence (COE) Technical Assistance Project provides technical assistance to the Commonwealth’s COEs. The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy’s Implementation and Research Center for Healthy Communities (IRC) provides technical assistance, learning networks, and curriculum that is specific to the needs of each COE, and PRHI serves as the administrative partner to IRC. The COEs ensure effective care coordination, integrate physical and behavioral health needs for every patient with an opioid use disorder (OUD), and increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services since 2018, the PA Opioid Use Disorder Centers of Excellence Technical Assistance center provides support to diverse community-based care management teams across more than 250 treatment sites to improve patient care and outcomes through integration of physical and behavioral health services. The COE Technical Assistance center promotes data collection and continuous quality improvement, offers training for care management team members, facilitates collaboration among participating managed care organizations, and reviews provider applications for specialty designation.