Fairer Medicaid access to medications for opioid use disorder
Reducing variation in access to medications for opioid use disorder in Medicaid
This project aims to find ways Medicaid programs can make it easier for people with opioid use disorder to start and stay on medications like buprenorphine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141579 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You can expect researchers to analyze Medicaid records to see how place, providers, plans, and state policies affect who gets medications for opioid use disorder and for how long. They will use the Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network (MODRN), which links university partnerships with Medicaid agencies in 11 states, to compare different policy levers such as provider networks, MCO contracts, payment incentives, and performance measurement. The team will examine differences by state, urban vs rural areas, and population groups to identify sources of variation in care. The goal is to point to specific policy changes Medicaid programs could adopt to reduce gaps in access and quality.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Medicaid enrollees with opioid use disorder in the participating states, especially those seeking buprenorphine or other MOUD, are the people whose care patterns are studied.
Not a fit: People with private insurance, the uninsured, or Medicaid enrollees living outside the participating states may not be directly affected by this project's analyses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help states change Medicaid rules so more people can start and stay on lifesaving medications for opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows Medicaid policies and payment incentives can influence MOUD uptake, but evidence is limited on which specific state-level levers most reliably reduce access gaps.
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.