Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Program

Substance use represents a significant problem in the United States. About three in ten U.S. adults drink at levels that elevate their risk for physical, mental health and social problems.¹ Brief interventions have been shown to promote significant, lasting reductions in drinking levels for individuals who are at risk, but who are not alcohol dependent.² 

We recognize the key role primary care physicians play in screening patients for alcohol use. With that in mind, we created the Aetna Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Program.

This program targets at-risk drinkers and offers:

• evidence-based protocol established by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and 
• reimbursement for alcohol screening and brief intervention.

Program details

• Watch a brief presentation  about the Alcohol Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment Program. 
• View details about the program, reimbursement and billing.  (PDF, 1.3 MB) 

Contact us to learn more

For questions about the program, or to learn more, e-mail us. 

Additional resources

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Protocol
Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much Clinician’s Guide, 2005 edition, is written for primary care and mental health clinicians. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health, produced this guide. It offers guidelines for screening, assessment and brief intervention.

• Read the complete guide
• View a condensed pocket guide 

Screening Instrument: The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
Explore additional details about the AUDIT, a written screening instrument provided in the guide.
This screening form is available in English or Spanish.

Resources for providers

• Our Clinical Practice Guideline - Helping patints who drink to much  (PDF, 159 KB)  
• Professional education materials  
• Research data and related websites 
• Professional and research publications

Resources for your patients
    Feel free to share these flyers and resources with your patients:

• Young adults and alcohol  (PDF, 1.6 MB) 
• Women and drinking  (PDF, 759 KB) 
• Drinking and your pregnancy  (PDF, 1.2 MB) 
• Mixing alcohol with medicines (PDF, 654 KB) 
• Alcohol use in older people  (PDF, 1.6 MB) 
• A behavioral health self-assessment that can help with understanding emotional or mental health issues 

These websites may also be helpful:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• The Cool Spot
• Rethinking Drinking

¹ Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much, A Clinician’s Guide, 2005 Edition, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
² Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much, A Clinician’s Guide, 2005 Edition