Access to medications for opioid use disorder increased substantially among Medicaid beneficiaries across nearly every U.S. state between 2019 and 2023, according to a new study from RTI International published in JAMA Network Open. The research analyzed data covering more than 126 million annual Medicaid enrollment records from 47 states and the District of Columbia, tracking patient progress through the “Cascade of Care” framework that follows patients from diagnosis through sustained treatment and outcomes.
The study found significant improvements in treatment access. The percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with opioid use disorder who received medications for opioid use disorder increased from 60.0% in 2019 to 69.1% in 2023, increasing in 45 states and declining in only three states. However, the percentage continuing medication for at least 180 days fell from 62.6% to 57.7%, declining in 29 states and increasing in 19 states. Meanwhile, the percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with opioid use disorder who had an opioid use disorder-related hospitalization or emergency department visit declined from 10.9% to 10.6%, declining in 17 states and increasing in 31 states.
The overall percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with opioid use disorder declined from 4.2% in 2019 to 3.6% in 2023. According to Tami Mark, Ph.D., a Distinguished Fellow at RTI and study coauthor, “The increase in individuals receiving effective treatment for opioid use disorders may have contributed to the national decline in opioid overdose deaths, which began in 2023.” Prior studies show that medications for opioid use disorder can cut the risk of dying in half. The study highlighted significant state-level variation in progress, with some states making gains across multiple measures while others struggled to keep patients engaged in treatment, suggesting opportunities to learn from approaches that support longer treatment duration.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://menafn.com/1111018322/New-RTI-Study-More-Medicaid-Patients-Received-Opioid-Use-Disorder-Treatment-Medications-In-US