Increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder: policy strategies during and after COVID-19 pandemic

Increasing access to medications for opioid use disorder: policy strategies during and after COVID-19 pandemic

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
Issue brief (Milbank Memorial Fund)
Author(s):
Au-Yeung, Caroline M., author
Blewett, Lynn A., author
Winkelman, Tyler N.A., author
Contributor(s):
Milbank Memorial Fund, issuing body.
Publication:
New York, NY : Milbank Memorial Fund, October 2021
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Health Services Accessibility
Opiate Substitution Treatment
Opioid-Related Disorders -- drug therapy
Buprenorphine -- therapeutic use
COVID-19
Health Policy
Methadone -- therapeutic use
Naltrexone -- therapeutic use
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
A number of federal and state policy changes have been put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. In this brief, we explore these policy changes and recommend that policymakers keep particular changes in place beyond the emergency period. Specifically, policymakers should make permanent (1) federal policies allowing buprenorphine initiation via telemedicine and state policies lifting buprenorphine prescribing restrictions that go beyond federal requirements; (2) federal policies allowing opioid treatment programs to dispense more doses of methadone and state policies lifting methadone dispensing restrictions; and (3) the prohibition of Medicaid prior authorization requirements for MOUD.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (14 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918350784106676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918350784106676