37% Of All Medicaid Managed Care Plans Cover All FDA-Approved Medications For Opioid Use Disorder

About 37% of all Medicaid managed care plans cover all three medications for treating opioid use disorder (MOUD)—buprenorphine, extended-release naltrexone, and methadone—approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a recent study. The percentage is much lower than anticipated by the mandate in the 2018 Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act, which required Medicaid managed care plans to cover all three MOUD for five years, starting October 1, 2020.

The analysis was based on coverage policies as of December 2023 for 180 comprehensive . . .