Dose-capping—limiting the amount of methadone a patient can take on a daily basis—was ruled “contrary to the current state of the medical literature and the principle of individualized treatment” in 2007 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the Federal Guidelines for Opioid Treatment. So it’s surprising that it still goes on. Some … [Read more...] about Methadone Dose-capping Still Continues in Practice, If Not in Policy
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Success! New York Medicaid to Reimburse OTPs for Buprenorphine
Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are finally able to bill Medicaid for buprenorphine treatment in New York, Allegra Schorr, president of the Coalition of Medication-Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates (COMPA, formerly the Committee of Methadone Program Administrators), announced in April. Under the new rules, OTPs will be reimbursed $7.01 for 8 mg of buprenorphine, … [Read more...] about Success! New York Medicaid to Reimburse OTPs for Buprenorphine
Access to HCV Screening, Testing, and Medications for Patients in Opioid Treatment Programs (Part III in a series)
What can patients in opioid treatment programs (OTPs) expect when seeking screening, v testing, and medication for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection? Their former or current high-risk status as people who inject drugs (PWIDs) entitles many OTP patients to free screening and testing. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) covers the tests because the U.S. Preventive Services Task … [Read more...] about Access to HCV Screening, Testing, and Medications for Patients in Opioid Treatment Programs (Part III in a series)
CMS Proposes Extending Parity to Medicaid Managed Care
On April 6, just after the national meeting of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD), the federal government issued a proposed rule that would bring Medicaid managed care in line with parity regulations that govern commercial insurance. The long-awaited proposed rule, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), would … [Read more...] about CMS Proposes Extending Parity to Medicaid Managed Care
Opportunities for Medication-Assisted Treatment Access and Expansion: The Time Is Right
The heroin and prescription-opioid epidemic are intersecting with the Affordable Care Act and parity, creating new access to treatment. This is an exciting time for opioid treatment programs (OTPs), says Gabrielle de la Gueronniere, national policy director for the Legal Action Center (LAC). The LAC recently released a report on medication-assisted treatment (MAT), showing … [Read more...] about Opportunities for Medication-Assisted Treatment Access and Expansion: The Time Is Right
