Insurance barriers to lifesaving medications for opioid use disorder
Insurance-related barriers to medications for opioid use disorder in private and Medicaid plans
This project will find out how insurance costs and prior authorization in private and Medicaid plans change whether people with opioid use disorder start and stay on medicines like buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11133069 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use large U.S. insurance and claims databases from 2017–2023 to compare how different plan rules affect starting and continuing medications for opioid use disorder. They will measure the effects of copays, coinsurance, and prior authorization on use of buprenorphine, methadone, and extended-release naltrexone among privately insured and Medicaid enrollees. The team will model what might happen if cost-sharing is reduced or prior authorization requirements are removed to produce clear guidance for policymakers, insurers, and employers. This analysis uses existing data and does not require patients to visit clinics or enroll in a prospective trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The work focuses on people with opioid use disorder who are covered by private insurance or Medicaid and who face copays, coinsurance, or prior-authorization requirements for medications.
Not a fit: People without private insurance or Medicaid—such as uninsured individuals or those covered only by Medicare or VA benefits—may be less directly affected by the results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could guide policy changes that make it easier for people with opioid use disorder to start and stay on effective medications, potentially reducing overdoses.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows cost and prior authorization can reduce MOUD use, but national multi-database analyses like this are less common and aim to provide stronger, policy-ready evidence.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chua, Kao-Ping — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Chua, Kao-Ping
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.