Do You Know Mat?

MAT stands for medication-assisted treatment. It involves using approved medicines and behavioral therapies, like counseling, to treat substance use disorders. Those medications are methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone.

You can find MAT providers and community resources near you in Mercy Care's new Do You Know MAT? pocket guides.

Do You Know MAT? -- Central Phoenix 
Do You Know MAT? -- West Valley 
Do You Know MAT? -- East Valley

MAT can support you

Your relationship with MAT will be about more than just meds. As part of your care, you’ll get counseling and behavioral therapies. Some of our providers have sites called 24/7 Access Points.
Mercy Care contracts with over 35 different Opioid Treatment locations. They’re ready to introduce you to MAT. They can show you how MAT can get you started on a path to recovery, health and wellness.

Myths about MAT

Sometimes MAT gets a bad rap. Some people think MAT is just about trading one drug for another. But that’s just not true.

When someone stops using opioids, the parts of their brain that have become dependent on those opioids go into withdrawal. Sometimes people can’t, or won’t, stop using just to avoid those terrible feelings of withdrawal.

MAT for opioid addiction works by interacting with some of the same receptors in the brain that are triggered by drugs. MAT can help in treating the physical effects of addiction, and should be used with counseling. MAT can stop the psychological cravings. MAT can give you a safe and controlled dose of medication.

Do I need insurance to get involved with MAT?

Not necessarily.

If you’re on an Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), or Medicaid, health plan, like Mercy Care, you can get MAT services at no cost to you. If you aren’t eligible for Medicaid, or if your private insurance doesn’t cover MAT services, that shouldn’t stop you from reaching out for MAT. Mercy Care receives Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) funds to make sure people who are uninsured or underinsured can still get MAT services.

What if I’m not ready?

We get it. People move through recovery differently. Not everyone is ready for MAT. But know that Mercy Care contracts with over 57 different providers, with nearly 300 locations, that offer other treatment options to support your recovery. When you’re ready, we’ll be here. We can connect you to MAT or whatever treatment and support is right for you.

For all of our treatment options, you can call Mercy Care Member Services at 602-263-3000 or toll-free 1-800-624-3879 (TTY/TDD 711) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 24-hour nurse line: 602-263-3000 or 1-800-624-3879. 

Until you’re ready, we want you and your loved ones to stay safe.

• Don’t share or reuse needles.
• Don't mix drugs.
• Get medical attention if you feel unwell (physically or mentally).