Addiction Treatment Rates Drop Since 2010, Especially Among Medicare Beneficiaries

Since 2010, addiction treatment initiation and engagement rates have dropped among commercially insured consumers, Medicaid beneficiaries, and Medicare beneficiaries. The largest drop, from 57.4% in 2010 to 43.3% in 2012, was among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a preferred provider organization (PPO). Among commercially insured consumers enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) addiction treatment initiation rates dropped from 42.7% in 2010 to 39.1% in 2012; among commercial PPO members the rate increased slightly from 40.8% in 2010 to 41.2% in 2012. Among Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in an HMO, the rate dropped from 42.8 . . .