A new study suggests that Medicaid expansion can improve access to addiction treatment for low-income individuals, providing much-needed support for those in need.
Addiction Treatment and Medicaid Study Findings
West Virginia, a state with significant addiction challenges, was the focus of recent research. Researchers analyzed claims data from 2014 to 2016 for individuals enrolled in the state’s Medicaid expansion program under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Key findings included:
- About 5.5 percent of Medicaid enrollees were diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUDs) annually.
- From 2014 to 2016, the monthly prevalence of SUD diagnoses nearly tripled.
- Treatment medication use increased significantly, with patients receiving longer durations of prescriptions alongside counseling and drug testing, as recommended for comprehensive treatment.
State Medicaid Expansion and Addiction Treatment
While the study focused on West Virginia, other states have observed similar benefits from Medicaid expansion:
- Research from Arizona, Maine, and New York revealed slower increases in drug-related fatalities in states that expanded Medicaid compared to those that did not.
- A study in the Journal of Health Economics found an 18 percent increase in addiction treatment admissions in expansion states, with Medicaid beneficiaries seeing the largest gains.
- Virginia, the 33rd state to expand Medicaid, has seen improved access to addiction care, including support for co-prescriptions of life-saving treatments.
Addiction Treatment and Behavioral Health EHR Solutions
If you’re a behavioral health provider in a state that has enacted Medicaid expansion, you may be seeing increased demand. BestNotes EHR, created for behavioral health and addiction treatment organizations, can help you streamline your services so you can improve care, track patient outcomes, and increase practice revenue. Contact us today to learn more, and even schedule a free demo.