Peekskill, NY — Sun River Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), is partnering with CHESS Health to deliver innovative digital recovery tools to individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD) at five Long Island locations. Sun River Health has deployed two key components of CHESS Health’s eRecovery solution—the evidence-based Connections recovery support smartphone app and the comprehensive Contingency Management Rewards Engine, which seamlessly delivers digital rewards to clients for completing activities that reinforce recovery.

Rewards are triggered when patients take targeted actions such as attending a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) appointment, meeting with a peer counselor, completing a recovery support plan, or attending a physical or dental appointment. Patients can earn up to $50 per month, with a maximum annual limit of $300. 

The program launched in November 2024 with Opioid Settlement Funds, and the results are impressive. Individuals participating in the rewards program have a 98% retention rate, compared to an 86% retention rate for those who are not in the program. “Contingency management is helping people to sustain their recovery,” said Crystal Marr, LCSW-R, CASAC, Associate Vice President of Substance Use Disorders at Sun River Health.

Peer counselors and care managers also enroll patients in the Connections app, which provides 24/7 peer assistance, moderated discussion forums, crisis response, educational resources, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy skill builders, virtual support meetings, daily check-ins, motivational content, and care management tools. Connections supports patients during the at-risk moments between appointments and offers separate resources that staff can access to receive support for themselves. “We want to ensure everyone has support to do the great work they do with patients,” Marr said.

Sun River Health worked closely with CHESS Health’s team to customize the contingency management program to their specifications. “CHESS Health helped us develop an individualized, comprehensive program that fits with our primary care focus,” Marr said. “As long as people are engaged and feel like they have greater control over their recovery, that’s a huge win. We want them to be cared for and not stigmatized in any way.” 

“CHESS Health shares Sun River Health’s dedication to helping individuals with SUD achieve and maintain recovery and improve their overall health,” CHESS Health CEO Hans Morefield said. “Sun River Health’s outstanding results are yet another compelling example of the power of contingency management to keep people engaged in treatment, ensuring better long-term outcomes.”

About CHESS Health

CHESS Health is a leading provider of evidence-based digital behavioral health solutions backed by peer support. These tools empower providers, health plans, and public sector organizations to address the substance use disorder crisis by enhancing prevention, facilitating care coordination, and improving adherence to care plans and treatment retention—ultimately resulting in better health outcomes.