Medicare & Medicaid Archives - Partnership to End Addiction

More Medicare Patients Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Addiction

More Medicare patients are receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, according to a new report by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Medicaid Expansion Led to Increase in Opioid Addiction Diagnosis and Treatment

Medicaid expansion has led to increases in the number of people diagnosed with and treated for opioid addiction, according to a new study that focused on West Virginia.

Trump Proposes Cutting Drug Control Policy Office Budget by 95 Percent

The Trump Administration 2020 budget proposal includes a 95 percent cut to the budget of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, The Washington Post reports.

Spending on Opioid Treatment Grew Faster in States That Expanded Medicaid

A new study finds spending on prescriptions for the treatment of opioid use disorder and overdose increased faster in states that expanded Medicaid, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Critics of New Medicare Rule on Opioids Say It May Harm Pain Patients

Critics say a new Medicare rule that would prevent payment for long-term, high-dose opioid prescriptions could harm pain patients, according to The New York Times.

HHS Secretary Willing to Loosen Medicaid Restrictions on Addiction Treatment

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar says he is willing to loosen Medicaid restrictions on addiction treatment, according to The Washington Post.

Medicaid Contributing to Opioid Crisis: Senate Report

Medicaid is contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis by establishing incentives that make it profitable to abuse and sell opioids, a report by Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee concludes.

Medicare Places Few Restrictions on Opioid Prescriptions: Study

Medicare has not put significant restrictions in place for opioid prescriptions, despite recent government guidelines that recommend such limits, according to a new study.

Some Insurance Companies Restrict Access to Less Addictive Pain Medications

Some insurance companies are restricting patients’ access to pain medicines with a lower risk of dependence or addiction, while making it easier to get generic opioid drugs, The New York Times reports.

Governors Say Medicaid Cuts Could Hurt State Efforts to Fight Opioid Crisis

A bipartisan group of governors says Medicaid cuts could impact states’ efforts to fight the opioid crisis.

Medicaid Spending on Opioid Addiction Treatment Has Risen Dramatically: Report

A new report finds spending on Medicaid-covered prescriptions for the treatment of opioid use disorder and opioid overdose increased dramatically between 2011 and 2016, according to NPR. The largest increase occurred after 2014.

Some Republican Senators From States Hit Hard by Opioid Epidemic Oppose Health Bill

Some Republican senators from states hit hard by the opioid epidemic are opposing the Senate health care bill, which would slash Medicaid funding.

Addiction Experts Warn Republican Health Care Plan Will Deepen Opioid Crisis

The Republican health care plan, which would roll back the Affordable Care Act and reduce or terminate health coverage for millions of Americans, will deepen the nation’s opioid crisis, addiction experts tell the Los Angeles Times.

Republican Proposed Medicaid Cuts Endanger Addiction Treatment: Experts

Cuts to Medicaid proposed by Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate jeopardize addiction treatment, NPR reports.

Families Say Trump’s Budget Cuts Run Counter to His Promises to Battle Addiction

Family members of young people who have struggled with or died from opioid addiction say President Trump’s budget proposal, which would reduce funding for addiction treatment, runs counter to his promises to help solve the problem, the Associated Press reports.

Many Opioid Addiction Programs Don’t Accept Medicaid: Study

A new study finds many opioid addiction programs, especially those in the Southeast, don’t accept Medicaid.

States Can Keep Medicaid Waivers to Boost Number of Addiction Treatment Beds

The Trump Administration recently told California, Maryland, Massachusetts and New York they can keep Medicaid waivers that increase the number of addiction treatment beds. The waivers were granted by the Obama Administration.

Addiction Treatment Mandate Would be Dropped Under Republican Healthcare Plan

The Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act would eliminate a requirement that Medicaid cover basic addiction and mental health services in states that expanded the government healthcare program, The Washington Post reports.

Repealing Affordable Care Act Could Slash Coverage for Addiction Treatment: Experts

Some health experts are warning that repealing the Affordable Care Act could slash treatment for addiction and mental health, the Associated Press reports.

Repeal of Obamacare Could Reduce Coverage for Addiction Treatment

People with addiction and mental health disorders and their treatment providers are worried that repealing the Affordable Care Act could reduce insurance coverage for these disorders, USA Today reports.

Some State Medicaid Programs Pay Providers for More Addiction Counseling

Some state Medicaid programs are beginning to pay addiction treatment centers for as much counseling and related medical services as are needed for patients. The move is intended to encourage centers to offer more counseling, according to Stateline.

Few Doctors Prescribe Suboxone for Medicare Patients: Study

A new study finds few family practice physicians are prescribing the opioid addiction treatment Suboxone for their Medicare patients.

Many Disabled Medicare Patients Still Using Opioids Despite State Limits

Many disabled Medicare patients are still using prescription opioid painkillers despite the passage of state laws designed to control use of the drugs, HealthDay reports.

One-Third of Medicare Beneficiaries Received Commonly Abused Opioids in 2015

Almost one-third of Medicare beneficiaries—nearly 12 million Americans—received a prescription for commonly abused opioids in 2015, according to a new report. Spending for these drugs exceeded $4 billion, according to the Associated Press.

States That Have Not Expanded Medicaid Struggle to Get Care to Addiction Patients

In the 19 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, doctors, public health officials and community leaders are struggling to get care to patients who need addiction treatment, the Los Angeles Times reports.

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