TY - JOUR
T1 - Private coverage of methadone in outpatient treatment programs
AU - Polsky, Daniel
AU - Arsenault, Samantha
AU - Azocar, Francisca
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by Arnold Ventures (formerly the Laura and John Arnold Foundation). The authors acknowledge Brendan Saloner, Ph.D., for his critical advice, Caroline Davidson, M.P.H., for her excellent management, and Jamey Holloway for her editorial assistance.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Among the three medications approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder, methadone has been in use for the longest period and has the most extensive evidence base of effectiveness. Yet it remains underutilized as new insurance policies favor access to buprenorphine and neglect to dismantle barriers to obtaining methadone. In the absence of wholesale regulatory change, private insurance carriers should take the lead in expanding access to this medication. We offer several solutions for private payers, including expanding coverage, removing prior authorization, addressing out-of-pocket costs, increasing provider reimbursement, and incentivizing system integration.
AB - Among the three medications approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder, methadone has been in use for the longest period and has the most extensive evidence base of effectiveness. Yet it remains underutilized as new insurance policies favor access to buprenorphine and neglect to dismantle barriers to obtaining methadone. In the absence of wholesale regulatory change, private insurance carriers should take the lead in expanding access to this medication. We offer several solutions for private payers, including expanding coverage, removing prior authorization, addressing out-of-pocket costs, increasing provider reimbursement, and incentivizing system integration.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081073794&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85081073794&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ps.201900373
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.201900373
M3 - Article
C2 - 31822242
AN - SCOPUS:85081073794
SN - 1075-2730
VL - 71
SP - 303
EP - 306
JO - Psychiatric Services
JF - Psychiatric Services
IS - 3
ER -