Medicaid Beneficiaries With Disabilities & Opioid Use Disorder 40% Less Likely To Start MOUD

Adult Medicaid beneficiaries classified as persons with a disability (PWD) aged 18 to 64 in Washington State were 40% less likely than beneficiaries without disability to initiate medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). PWD who started MOUD were 13% less likely to remain in treatment for six months. Initiation of MOUD was lowest for beneficiaries with physical disabilities (31.1%) and developmental disabilities (32.9%), and highest for those with a cognitive disability (42.9%).

The MOUD medications most often used were buprenorphine and methadone; use of naltrexone was low. For PWD, buprenorphine and methadone were prescribed or administered less . . .