Telemedicine Supports 90-Day Retention In Treatment With Buprenorphine For Opioid Use Disorder

Medicaid beneficiaries in Kentucky and Ohio who initiated buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine during 2020 had higher odds of retention in treatment but no change in the odds of opioid-related nonfatal overdose. In Kentucky, those who started treatment via telemedicine were 13% more likely to remain in treatment for 90 days. In Ohio, those who started treatment via telemedicine were 19% more likely to remain in treatment. In both states, initiating treatment via telemedicine was not associated with a non-fatal opioid-related overdose.

The statistics were from a review of Medicaid data on 91,914 adults aged 18 to . . .