HHS Opioid Code-A-Thon: 36 Hours to #SaveLives

Starting today, CNSI is participating in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Opioid Code-a-Thon, where data enthusiasts from around the country will come together to develop data-driven solutions to combat the opioid epidemic. We are joining computer programmers, public health experts, data scientists, researchers, and innovators in Washington, DC to discuss how we can build on HHS’ five-part strategy to make a real-world impact on the opioid crisis.

At a time when 91 Americans are dying every day from an opioid overdose, the value of leveraging data to track and prevent opioid misuse cannot be overstated. One area of focus is among Medicaid enrollees, as research shows they are among the most vulnerable population to become abusers. At CNSI, we’ve already made strides in leveraging this data to solve the growing epidemic.

For example, in Michigan, we’re working on an addiction-identification tool that analyzes Medicaid claims in order to detect where opioid abuse is likely occurring. By sorting through data sources using the IBM BigInsights solution, we can identify signs of opioid abuse at both the prescriber and beneficiary level. This real-time predictive analysis has the potential to prevent an addiction before it begins and provide at-risk populations with the treatment they need.

While our work in Michigan is a promising start in our fight to solve the opioid epidemic, it is just that – a start. CNSI is committed to working with stakeholders in every state to find innovative solutions to this public health crisis sweeping our nation. We look forward to continuing this work at the HHS Code-a-Thon, and building on that momentum in the weeks and months to come. 

Not able to attend? Check out the live stream on the HHS website and follow along with us at @CNSICorp to insights, take-aways, and results of the Code-A-Thon.