Many workers lack employer-sponsored SUD benefits
Only 14% of workers have access to such a benefit despite more than half saying it's important for employers to provide coverage.
Photo: Luis Alvarez/Getty Images
More than a third of the American workforce experience personal or family problems linked to substance abuse, and more than half think it's important for employers to provide coverage that addresses substance issues. But, according to a new survey from Pelago, only 14% of workers have access to such a benefit.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that substance use disorders cost employers more than $15,000 per affected employee annually, and yet the survey describes a "support gap" that's preventing most workers from obtaining support. This gap is exacerbated by the fact that more than half of employees (54%) aren't comfortable asking for help in this regard.
Pelago said it was important for workplaces to reduce stigma and encourage open dialogue about substance use and mental health, and to offer evidence-based substance use management programs, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
"As long as substance use and mental health issues continue to threaten productivity, safety, and overall employee well-being, environments that facilitate open, stigma-free communication about substance use management are not just beneficial but essential," authors wrote.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
The survey estimates that about 60 million employees – about 35% of the total U.S. workforce – are experiencing personal or family problems related to substance or alcohol use. According to the survey, substance use issues affect employees across all job types and work arrangements, impacting absenteeism, productivity, safety and healthcare costs.
The substance use crisis is significantly impacting workforce productivity across all job categories, with 42% of employees reporting missing work due to personal or family substance use issues. There's a strong correlation between substance use and work missed as a result of mental health issues, with 38% of those with substance concerns also reporting mental health-related absences.
Certain worker demographics – such as women, younger people, people less educated, LGBTQ+, Black – are at increased risk for substance use and mental health challenges, the survey showed.
Employer substance use management programs, including personalized treatment and behavioral therapy, have proven effective, with four out of five employees who made use of them saying they were helpful. But despite the success rate, only 14% of workers have access to such benefits, and just one in four with substance or alcohol issues have sought employer assistance.
Emotional barriers like shame and fear prevent many workers from seeking substance use help, with the numbers showing that over half (54%) of employees feel uncomfortable asking for assistance.
A communication gap also exists, with more than 70% of employees reporting they are unwilling to discuss personal or family health struggles with their employers.
Creating a recovery-ready workplace entails reducing stigma, encouraging open conversation, and providing confidential access to evidence-based programs, authors said.
"The result of such workplaces is often enhanced productivity, improved morale, and reduced healthcare costs," they wrote.
THE LARGER TREND
The Department of Health and Human Services in February issued a final rule that increases coordination among providers treating patients for SUDs, strengthens confidentiality protections through civil enforcement and enhances the integration of behavioral health information with other medical records to improve patient health outcomes.
The rule was informed by the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that, among other things, required HHS to bring the Part 2 program into closer alignment with HIPAA Privacy, Breach Notification, and Enforcement Rules.
In March HHS made $39.4 million in grants available to substance abuse-related programs in an effort to advance its Overdose Prevention Strategy, which is focused on prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. They also support the White House's mental health strategy, as well as the National Drug Control Strategy.
That isn't the first time HHS has allocated grant funding to programs geared toward addressing the opioid crisis. In September 2022, HHS awarded more than $1.6 billion in investments for communities throughout the country to address the addiction and overdose crisis.
Jeff Lagasse is editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a HIMSS Media publication.
