Longer Buprenorphine Maintenance Improves Outcomes Among Medicaid Beneficiaries With Opioid Use Disorder

Medicaid beneficiaries in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) who take buprenorphine for at least 15 months have better outcomes than people who discontinue buprenorphine treatment after six to nine months. Those with the longer treatment duration have 52% lower relative risk of an inpatient hospitalization for any reason. Longer treatment durations were also associated with 26% lower relative risk of an emergency department visit.

A National Quality Forum-endorsed measure supports OUD treatment lasting at least 180 days. In addition to lower risk of all-cause hospitalization and emergency department visits among those who continued on buprenorphine maintenance treatment . . .