Improving Utilization of Long-acting Medications: Toward Standardized Measures

Performance Benchmarks for Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Providers

The use of long-acting medications (LAMs) varies dramatically across states — anywhere from 5% to 30%. What represents best practice? This groundbreaking report from the National Council Medical Director Institute provides the first-ever standardized performance measures and benchmarks to help providers optimize their use of long-acting medications.

The Problem We’re Solving

The Situation: LAMs are consistently underutilized despite strong evidence of their superior outcomes compared to oral medications.

The Solution: Standardized performance benchmarks make practice patterns visible and drive systematic improvement.

The Goal: Help every provider identify opportunities to offer these evidence-based treatments to appropriate patients.

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What gets measured gets done.

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Clinicians have a duty to practice within the usual accepted community standard. But how do you know what that standard is? How do you know how you measure up?

Performance measurement gives clinicians the data they need for meaningful discussions and continuous improvement.

Key Report Highlights

LAMs remain dramatically underutilized despite years of education and case discussions. The problem isn’t knowledge, it’s measurement. What we measure, we can improve over time.

Two Critical Gaps

• Initiation: Many eligible patients never receive their first dose of an LAM.
• Continuation: There’s a substantial drop-off between first and second administrations of LAMs.

Evidence-based benchmarks can drive real change. The Medical Director Institute proposes:

• Antipsychotic LAMs: 30% initiation benchmark with 85% continuation to second dose.
• Opioid Use Disorder LAMs: 10% initiation benchmark with 80% continuation to second dose.
• Alcohol Use Disorder LAMs: 10% initiation benchmark with 60% continuation to second dose.

This Report Is for You

If you are a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, clinical director or quality improvement team member. Or a policy maker or administrator responsible for behavioral health care delivery systems, including Medicaid and Medicare authorities, managed care organizations and pharmacy benefit management organizations. 

You prescribe or oversee the prescribing of medications for:

• Psychotic disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Opioid use disorder
• Alcohol use disorder

What Makes This Report Unique

• Expert panel recommendations: Developed by leading experts in LAM therapy.
• Specific, actionable benchmarks: Concrete targets you can measure against.
• Dual-focus approach: Addresses initiation and continuation.
• Multi-condition coverage: Comprehensive approach across psychiatric and substance use disorders.
• Quick reference tools: Includes comparison tables for all available LAMs.

Ready to Elevate Your Practice?

Join the movement toward standardized, evidence-based utilization of LAMs.

Download the report and start implementing these benchmarks in your practice today.

Guide to Long-acting Medications

Understand the importance of using long-acting medications as a first-line treatment option for psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, OUD and AUD.

Learn More