BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Groups Recover Together (Groups), the national leader in value-based care for Substance Use Disorder treatment, today announced the completion of a campaign to bring their proprietary recovery app to all of their 11,000+ active members. The news comes following an October announcement that Groups’ mobile app was launched in beta across limited geographies. Today, thanks to widespread member adoption, the app is now available in all of the 15 states Groups operates within.
The new mobile app combines the traditional and clinical elements of Groups’ in-person treatment experience with an asynchronous digital recovery solution designed to support their members whenever and wherever they need help. With the app, members can schedule initial intake appointments, review and create customized treatment plans, attend virtual group therapy, read helpful content about recovery, sign off on paperwork, and more. The app is also designed to reduce administrative burden on clinicians, so they can focus more of their time on delivering care.
“Ultimately, this app is about conveniently meeting our members where they are,” said Colleen Nicewicz, CEO of Groups. “That means making it as easy as possible for members to access quality Substance Use Disorder treatment - whether at one of our in-person locations or virtually. The app is designed to centralize, enhance and simplify that care for all who enter into our program, while simultaneously making it easier for our care teams to serve those members.”
The news comes amidst a substance use disorder epidemic that continues to intensify. Last month, the CDC released data showing that over 100,000 people in the U.S. lost their lives due to an overdose last year, a tragic record. Lack of access to affordable, quality treatment is a key factor which contributes to the ongoing increases in deaths of despair across the country. In fact, it’s estimated that only 1 in 5 people struggling with addiction receive treatment (JAMA).
“Consider the typical experience of someone struggling with Opioid addiction here in the U.S.,” said Dr. Gus Crothers, MD and Chief Medical Officer of Groups Recover Together. “In addition to the relentless stigma they face, the experience of finding any treatment – let alone quality treatment – can be really difficult. Laborious paperwork, treatment centers that won’t accept Medicaid, long drives to receive treatment, punitive policies that leave people kicked out of treatment for relapsing, lack of access to support resources – that’s what we are combatting with this app. The new Groups app is built with the goal of seamlessly connecting members instantly to the community, treatment, and resources they need, when they need it.”
Established in 2014 and now offering recovery treatment services in 15 states, Groups Recover Together offers a holistic approach to addiction recovery that creates new opportunities for members, helping them achieve their goals and regain control over their addiction and their lives. Membership at Groups has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic and today, thanks to virtual care, 30% of Groups’ members live in a county where Groups has no physical office.
Designed to suit the unique needs of members, Groups’ services available through the app enable convenient treatment, the option for complete telehealth, and additional care navigation services that can connect members with local resources targeted at addressing Social Determinants of Health needs.
“Through the Groups app, the organization has taken the support that members rely on and brought it to one centralized, easy to access experience,” said Adam Schmidler, Director of Product at Groups. “Our success in getting members to adopt the tool is due largely to our guiding principle to keep finding ways to make things easier for our members – and anyone struggling with addiction. Throughout this entire process, we have been purposeful to never stray away from keeping our members at the center of it all.”
About Groups Recover Together:
Groups Recover Together delivers opioid addiction treatment services that are proven to help individuals get their lives back on track. Groups provides fast, easy access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), using Suboxone (buprenorphine), as well as a program designed to build a sense of community and accountability. In addition, members gain access to services through Groups' holistic care model, which is backed by the belief that long-term recovery is tied to social, behavioral and economic factors that aren't typically addressed in traditional treatment models. Learn more at joingroups.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
