Please read Dr. Crystal’s article in JAMA Network Open titled, “Buprenorphine Utilization and Prescribing Among New Jersey Medicaid Beneficiaries After Adoption of Initiatives Designed to Improve Treatment Access.“
Expanding access to evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major policy priority in addressing the ongoing overdose epidemic. Yet, despite strong evidence demonstrating their effectiveness, medications for OUD (MOUDs) remain underutilized. Nationally, less than 30% of individuals who could potentially benefit from treatment are estimated to receive MOUDs, and among Medicaid beneficiaries diagnosed with OUD in 11 states in 2018, just 57% received MOUDs. Many efforts to increase access to MOUDs have focused on buprenorphine, which carries low risk of overdose and can be prescribed in any health care setting by appropriately licensed clinicians. However, the vast majority of clinicians do not prescribe buprenorphine, including less than 5% of primary care practitioners (PCPs). To read the full article.
Buprenorphine Utilization and Prescribing Among New Jersey Medicaid Beneficiaries After Adoption of Initiatives Designed to Improve Treatment Access. Treitler P, Nowels M, Samples H, Crystal S. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 May 1;6(5):e2312030. PMID: 37145594 PMCID: PMC10163388 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.12030