How Medicaid prescription limits affect treatment for opioid use disorder

Impact of Medicaid Prescription Cap Policies on Treatment Outcomes for Opioid Use Disorder: A National Mixed Methods Study

NIH-funded research Brown University · NIH-11019804

This study looks at how limits on Medicaid prescriptions affect people with opioid use disorder, focusing on how these rules impact access to important treatments like methadone and buprenorphine for those who are low-income.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrown University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Providence, United States)
Project IDNIH-11019804 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of Medicaid prescription cap policies on individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). It aims to understand how these policies, which limit the number of prescriptions that can be filled, affect access to effective treatments like methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. By examining the experiences of low-income Medicaid beneficiaries, the study will gather qualitative and quantitative data to assess the implications of these caps on their health outcomes. The findings could help inform policy changes to improve access to necessary medications for those struggling with OUD.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are low-income individuals with opioid use disorder who are enrolled in Medicaid.

Not a fit: Patients who are not enrolled in Medicaid or do not have opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to life-saving treatments for individuals with opioid use disorder.

How similar studies have performed: While some older studies have explored Medicaid data, this research specifically focuses on opioid use disorder and is considered novel in its approach.

Where this research is happening

Providence, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.