A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) advisory regarding contingency management (CM) incentive payments for treating substance use disorder (SUD) authorizes grant recipients to provide motivational incentives of up to $750 per patient per year, a substantial increase from the previous maximum of $75. This change by SAMHSA reflects robust research supporting evidence-based contingency management programs as effective interventions for various SUDs across diverse populations.
SAMHSA’s advisory outlines a few key requirements for grantees. CM incentives should be in the form of items or vouchers/gift cards for items and services. Cash payments are not permitted. Further, CM interventions must be evidence-based and use a prize-based or voucher-based model. The advisory also emphasizes using digital technologies, such as CHESS Health’s Rewards Engine, to deliver CM rewards, as these technologies help mitigate the risks of fraud and abuse by providers or clinics.
Proven Impact.
The Rewards Engine is a customizable, voucher-based, automated digital system designed for CM rewards. This innovative solution offers a cost-effective way for states, providers, and payers to seamlessly implement and manage this impactful behavioral intervention. With digital delivery, every step in the process is meticulously tracked, facilitating real-time analytics and comprehensive reporting.
