Medicaid OUD Treatment Access Rises, But State-Level Gaps Persist

Event summary

  • RTI International study found 69.1% of Medicaid OUD patients received MOUD in 2023, up from 60.0% in 2019
  • OUD diagnoses declined from 4.2% to 3.6% of Medicaid beneficiaries during the same period
  • 180-day MOUD continuation dropped from 62.6% to 57.7%, with 29 states showing declines
  • OUD-related hospitalizations/ED visits decreased slightly from 10.9% to 10.6%

The big picture

The study highlights progress in expanding access to opioid use disorder treatments through Medicaid, which may be contributing to the national decline in overdose deaths. However, significant state-level variation suggests that policy and implementation differences are creating uneven outcomes. The research underscores the need for targeted strategies to improve treatment continuation and reduce OUD-related hospitalizations.

What we're watching

Treatment Continuity
Whether states with declining 180-day MOUD continuation can implement effective retention strategies
State Policy Impact
How differing state approaches affect long-term OUD treatment outcomes
National Trends
The pace at which improved MOUD access contributes to sustained opioid overdose death reductions