How Medicaid managed care changes affect people with substance use disorders
Official title: Examining the Effects of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations' Entries and Exits for Medicaid Enrollees with Substance Use Disorders
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11306033 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how Medicaid managed care plans entering or leaving a state influence access to medications and continuity of care for adults with substance use disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $667,097 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA059485-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11306033 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+) enrolled in Medicaid with a diagnosed substance use disorder, particularly those receiving medications like buprenorphine or behavioral health services, are the population most directly relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People not enrolled in Medicaid, younger than 21, or whose care is entirely through private insurance are unlikely to be included or directly affected by this project.
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will analyze state Medicaid data to see whether changes in which managed care organizations (MCOs) operate in a state change access to treatments like buprenorphine and behavioral health services. The team will combine quantitative claims analyses with interviews and document review to understand why some MCO changes help or hurt care continuity. They will compare outcomes before and after MCO entries or exits across multiple states and explore state and plan features linked to better patient access. The goal is to identify practical contract and policy features that reduce service disruptions for people on Medicaid.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help states and plans design contracts and policies that reduce treatment interruptions and improve access to medication and counseling for Medicaid enrollees with substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous health policy studies have linked Medicaid program changes to changes in access and outcomes, but studying the specific effects of MCO contract entries and exits on people with SUD is a newer focus with limited prior direct evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lindner, Stephan Reinhard — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Lindner, Stephan Reinhard
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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.