Geisinger Health Plan Establishes Relationship With CleanSlate Addiction Treatment Centers

DANVILLE, Pa. and NORTHAMPTON, Mass., Aug. 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As the number of Pennsylvanians suffering from opioid dependence continues to increase, access to affordable, effective care remains limited for many. In order to enhance access to high-quality addiction treatment for GHP members, Geisinger Health Plan (GHP) and CleanSlate Addiction Treatment Centers announced a collaborative relationship today.

CleanSlate, based in Massachusetts, provides award-winning, outpatient, medication assisted treatment and related therapies for patients who have addiction and associated disorders using the highest quality, evidence-based practices.

CleanSlate will initially offer two facilities in Pennsylvania. The first two Pennsylvania offices will be located at 189 E. Market Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA and 1020 W. Lackawanna Ave., Scranton, PA. The Wilkes-Barre location will begin operations in September, followed in October by the Scranton location. Susquehanna is an additional area under consideration for potential expansion.

"There is currently a significant shortage of quality care for opioid addiction treatment in Pennsylvania. We have been working with CleanSlate Centers since late 2014 to discuss ways they can help our members receive the care they need to help them through the challenges associated with addiction and recovery," says Kathleen Fierros, vice president of provider network innovations. "We were impressed by the compassionate and coordinated care provided by CleanSlate; an approach that aligns with our mission to serve our members."

"We are thrilled to be working with Geisinger Health Plan," says Joan Erwin, Senior Vice President of Operations at CleanSlate. "They clearly understand the severity of the epidemic, and have worked expeditiously to ensure that their members have access to high quality, evidence-based treatment. By working together, we will be able to make a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of patients."

About CleanSlate Centers
CleanSlate was founded in 2009 in response to the growing opioid epidemic facing the country. A network of outpatient addiction treatment centers, CleanSlate provides compassionate, effective, medication-assisted treatment and related therapies for patients who have addiction and associated disorders using the highest quality, evidence-based practices.

In recognition of their innovation and effectiveness, CleanSlate's doctor-led treatment programs received the inaugural 2012 Science and Service Award for Office-based Opioid Treatment by SAMHSA.

About Geisinger Health Plan
Geisinger Health Plan, begun in 1985, is headquartered in Danville, Pennsylvania. GHP is the #1 ranked commercial and Medicare health plans in Pennsylvania. Nationally, GHP is ranked #12 among commercial health plans and #10 among Medicare health plans according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2014-2015. The plan serves more than 510,000 members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey and West Virginia. Coverage is available for businesses of all sizes, individuals and families, Medicare beneficiaries and Children's Health Insurance Program and medical assistance recipients. For more information, please visit TheHealthPlan.com.

SOURCE CleanSlate Centers