Request for Information (RFI): NIDA Dissemination and Implementation Priority Areas

Notice Number: NOT-DA-13-014

Release Date: March 1, 2013
Response Date: March 30, 2013

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), seeks comments from a broad range of stakeholders on the research and information needed to support the widespread use of evidence-based drug abuse treatment interventions and practices. Input is sought from practitioners and administrators serving individuals with substance use disorders, including those working in general medical and primary care; infectious disease (e.g., HIV and HCV); criminal justice; and specialty care substance abuse and mental health settings.

NIDA supports research to prevent and treat substance use disorders and mitigate their consequences by answering questions of importance to the practice community and promoting use of evidence-based clinical practices to optimize public health impact. However, a persistent research-to-practice gap exists in the substance abuse service delivery field, often resulting from a variety of social, political, and economic determinants. NIDA is committed to ensuring its research findings are widely disseminated to help improve adoption of evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders.

Recent and ongoing health care reform will likely increase the demand for these services and, in turn, lead to increased opportunities for the delivery and receipt of drug abuse treatment services, accompanied by an increased need on the part of providers for clinically effective treatments and the tools, training, and financial supports to facilitate their adoption.

This Request for Information (RFI) is soliciting input from a variety of key stakeholders to assist NIDA in setting research priorities to enhance the dissemination, implementation, and adoption of evidence-based practices and principles to treat persons with substance use disorders. Specifically, NIDA hopes to gain a better understanding of how evidence-based screening and assessment; behavioral interventions; pharmacotherapies; integrated care for co-occurring conditions; and ongoing recovery support can be more routinely and seamlessly accessed and utilized by those who need them.

Public comment is sought on topics that can inform high-priority areas of research, dissemination activities, and the implementation of evidence-based practices. Comments can include, but are not limited to the following areas of concern:

• The greatest challenges preventing widespread adoption of evidence-based drug abuse treatment interventions in specialty care settings and in general healthcare settings.
• Populations or conditions where evidence-based treatment services are most in need of development or adaptation.
• Research necessary to support clinician, program, or system-level adoption of evidence-based practices.
• Current or anticipated reimbursement structures, rates, and coverage policies which impede widespread adoption, if any.
• How other policies (e.g., regulatory, legal, credentialing) might be addressed to enhance adoption.
• Quality indicators (e.g., performance measures) or accountability systems (e.g., accreditation, licensing) that could be leveraged to facilitate more widespread adoption.
• Necessary resources (e.g., training, integrated administrative databases, implementation strategies) to facilitate referrals to treatment for people with substance use disorders.

To respond to any of the points above or others, please identify the critical issues(s) and recommended approaches. Responders are free to address any or all of the above items.

All comments must be submitted electronically to: Matthew.Finger@nih.gov.

Responses to this RFI will be accepted through March 30, 2013. Responders will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of a response, but will not receive individualized feedback on any suggestions. No basis for claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or from the Government’s use of such information.

This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, the NIH, and/or NIDA. NIDA does not intend to make any awards based on responses to this RFI or to otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the Government's use of such information.

Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. NIDA will not de-identify responses, so please do not include identifiable information if you want to make confidential comments. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Please direct all inquiries to:

RFI - NIDA Dissemination and Implementation Priority Areas
ATTN: Matthew Finger
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Blvd., Rm 5153, MSC 9589
Bethesda, MD 20892-9589
Email: Matthew.Finger@nih.gov