Bicycle Health, Albertsons form partnership to expand access to OUD treatment

Bicycle Health, a virtual provider specialising in opioid use disorder treatment, has announced a partnership with Albertsons, a leading supermarket and pharmacy chain, aimed at expanding access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder.

Bicycle Health, headquartered in Boston, operates as a digital health company that collaborates with insurance providers to offer a comprehensive range of addiction treatment services, including medication-based treatment, therapy, and peer support. Some of its key payer partners include UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Cigna. Albertsons, based in Boise, Idaho, is the second-largest supermarket chain in the United States, spanning 34 states.

Through this new collaboration, Bicycle Health's healthcare providers will have the capability to prescribe buprenorphine extended-release injections (commonly known as Sublocade) to patients with opioid use disorder. These injections can then be administered by pharmacists in private rooms at Albertsons pharmacies. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist used to treat individuals with opioid use disorder. Following the medication administration, Bicycle Health will continue to provide follow-up care and behavioural health support through its virtual platform.

In 2021, approximately 2.5 million adults in the United States grappled with opioid use disorder, yet only one in five received medication-based treatment. By partnering with Bicycle Health, Albertsons aims to improve this statistic.

Erin Shaal, Vice President of Prescription Procurement, Specialty, and Patient Care at Albertsons Companies, commented, "Offering recovery injectables at our pharmacies fills a need in our communities where patients are seeking alternative treatment options to manage opioid use disorder in a stigma-free environment."

Sublocade, administered once a month, differs from Suboxone (another form of buprenorphine) which is taken orally on a daily basis. Ankit Gupta, CEO of Bicycle Health, argued that a monthly injection imposes less of a burden on patients compared to daily oral medication. He also noted that from a confidentiality perspective, Sublocade is more convenient, as some patients prefer not to have Suboxone at home or readily accessible.

Gupta further emphasised that Sublocade could be a better option for patients at higher risk of medication diversion, referring to the illicit use or distribution of prescription drugs.

This partnership's services are currently available at over 700 Albertsons pharmacies located in 17 states, including Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. Bicycle Health and Albertsons have plans to expand their reach to additional states in the future.

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