Better measurement of opioid treatment quality in Medicaid
Improving quality measurement for opioid use disorder treatment using a multi-state Medicaid research network
This project creates better ways to measure how well opioid use disorder care works for people covered by Medicaid.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11178670 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you get treatment for opioid use disorder through Medicaid, this project works with 12 state Medicaid programs to build new measures that show how well individual clinicians, clinics, and programs are doing. The researchers will link Medicaid data with patient-reported outcomes and experiences to capture aspects of care that matter to patients. They will develop provider-level measures and test whether those measures relate to outcomes like overdose and treatment continuity. Results will be reported for different population groups so states and clinics can target improvements and reduce disparities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder receiving treatment in one of the 12 participating states, especially those on medications for OUD or in counseling programs.
Not a fit: People not enrolled in Medicaid, living outside the participating states, or not currently engaged in OUD treatment are unlikely to be directly included or benefit in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help Medicaid programs and local clinics pinpoint gaps in opioid treatment and support more effective, equitable care for people with OUD.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network has produced useful quality measures linked to overdose outcomes, but creating provider-level measures that include patient-reported experiences and subgroup reporting is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Donohue, Julie Marie — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Donohue, Julie Marie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.