“One in three older Americans with Medicare drug coverage is prescribed opioid painkillers, but for those who develop a dangerous addiction there is one treatment Medicare won’t cover: methadone.
Federal money is flowing to states to open new methadone clinics through the 21st Century Cures Act, but despite the nation’s deepening opioid crisis, the Medicare drug program for the elderly covers methadone only when prescribed for pain.
Methadone doesn’t meet the requirement of Medicare’s Part D drug program because it can’t be dispensed in a retail pharmacy.
In Congress, legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate, and a White House commission on the opioid epidemic also recommended the change.”
Read more at: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/opioid-treatment-gap-medicare-methadone-clinics-54683111
Source: ABCNews.go.com – April 24, 2018
See related article on opioid addiction treatment insurance reimbursement available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/insurers-are-making-it-harder-for-me-to-treat-my-opioid-addicted-patients/2018/04/24/1ed674b0-2090-11e8-86f6-54bfff693d2b_story.html
