preview

Aetna Case Study

Satisfactory Essays

According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), in any given year approximately 14 percent of adults in the U.S. misuse alcohol. George Koob is the Director of the NIAAA, he states that the risk of suffering with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) has been on the rise for the last 10 years.

Aetna offers inpatient and outpatient alcohol rehab and detox treatment to its clients whom are suffering with an alcohol use disorder, such as alcohol dependency. The company also offers inpatient and outpatient coverage for co-occurring mental health disorders; furthermore, individuals who have coverage through an employer group plan may have additional benefits through an Employee Assistance Program.
Aetna’s Brief Intervention and Referral to …show more content…

Aetna has a program that is designed to assist primary care physicians as they screen their Aetna patients for alcohol abuse. Aetna’s Alcohol Screening program, SBIRT, uses the NIAAA's evidence-based protocol to screen clients and determine their eligibility to receive treatment for alcohol abuse.
Steps required to Receive Alcohol Rehab and Detox Treatment Through Aetna

Prior to receiving benefits for alcohol dependency, Aetna requires its clients’ doctors to follow the steps outlined by the NIAAA.

Step 1

Your physician will want to know about your heavy drinking/binging days: You may receive a self-reporting instrument (i.e., an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), binge drinking is defined as a woman drinking at least four alcoholic beverages and a man drinking at least five alcoholic beverages within a two-hour period.

Step 2

Your doctor needs to assess whether you have a dysfunctional pattern of alcohol use that causes you a significant amount of distress or impairment.

Step

Get Access