“A study published Monday in the journal Health Affairs found significant disparities in Medicaid coverage for addiction treatment among the states.
“Researchers sought to determine the number of substance treatment services available in each state in 2014. They analyzed coverage for the four tiers of services recognized by the American Society for Addiction Medicine, which are classified as outpatient (including group and individual therapy as well as recovery support services), intensive outpatient, short- and long-term residential inpatient and intensive inpatient care for detoxification. Data was collected from the annual National Drug Abuse Treatment System Survey and state Medicaid directors.
At the time of the study, 21 states had expanded Medicaid. The federal health law required states that chose to expand their Medicaid programs to include coverage for substance abuse treatment. But it gave states control to decide the type of treatment and medication that would be covered.
Overall, the researchers found the level of Medicaid coverage for substance abuse treatment did not correlate with Medicaid expansion. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia insured each of the services in all tiers, and 26 states covered at least one service in each level of treatment.”
Read more at: http://khn.org/news/medicaid-coverage-for-addiction-treatment-varies-dramatically/
Source: Kaiser Health News – December 6, 2016
