Reprise: Case Management in Substance Use Services in the Age of the Affordable Care Act

Abstract

This article asserts that case management, particularly in the area of substance use, be promoted as an integral tool to complement the integrated care models put forth under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The potential expansion of addictions services under the ACA reaffirms and elevates the importance of case management in contemporary systems of care. The article briefly reintroduces the rationale for the continuation and expansion of case management in substance use intervention programs and discusses the efficacy of this service based on available research. Given the expertise social workers have in case management, social work leaders will be critical participants in health care system and policy discussions to ensure the enactment of best practices in case management in substance use services.

KEYWORDS:

• Affordable Care Act
• case management
• intervention
• health care policy
• social work roles
• substance use