With MedEZ, your team can assess, place and document patients under The ASAM Criteria, Fourth Edition, without leaving the EHR. ASAM 4 is becoming the standard many payers use for medical necessity. Major commercial payers and a growing number of state Medicaid programs use it for adult substance use admissions, so documenting to the Fourth Edition helps your program stay ready for authorizations and audits.
What’s new in ASAM 4
The Fourth Edition is the first major update to The ASAM Criteria in a decade. Key changes include:
- Redesigned six dimensions. Readiness to change is now considered across every dimension, and a new Dimension 6, Person-Centered Considerations, takes its place.
- Subdimensions. Each dimension breaks into specific, actionable factors for more consistent assessments.
- Addiction medication needs. Dimension 1 explicitly addresses medication for addiction treatment.
- Updated continuum of care. Withdrawal management is integrated into the levels of care, and residential and inpatient care are more clearly defined.
- Person-centered, co-occurring care. Harm reduction, trauma-informed practice and social determinants of health are built into the framework.
How ASAM 4 works in MedEZ
- ASAM CO-Triage for a fast, brief screening that points to a provisional level of care at first contact.
- ASAM Comprehensive Assessment covering all six dimensions and their subdimensions, the foundation for placement and treatment planning.
- Level-of-care recommendations mapped to the Fourth Edition continuum.
- Connected treatment planning with the integrated Wiley Treatment Planner, so assessment findings flow straight into goals and interventions.
- Utilization Review support with documentation that backs medical necessity for authorizations and continued-stay reviews.
- Inpatient and outpatient programs, from admission through discharge.
ASAM 3rd Edition is still included
Not every state or payer has moved to ASAM 4. Many state Medicaid programs and some payers still require the Third Edition, and others use it for adolescent care. That’s why MedEZ includes both editions in the same application. Your clinicians can use whichever edition each patient and payer requires, with no separate tools or workarounds
Why programs choose MedEZ
For more than 30 years, MedEZ has served mental health and substance use providers. Our EHR is built for how your programs actually work, and our support team is made up of experienced people, not bots, ready to help your staff through the move to ASAM 4.
Ready to bring ASAM 4 to your program? Schedule a demo today at info@medez.com or dial (877)AT-MedEZ
Learn more about the Fourth Edition at ASAM.org.
