Pandemic policy changes and buprenorphine access for veterans with opioid use disorder
Assessing the influence of pandemic-era policies on patterns of opioid use disorder care in a national veteran population
This project looks at whether pandemic-era policy changes made it easier for veterans with opioid use disorder to start and stay on buprenorphine treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11374751 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses VA medical records so your care experiences, and those of other veterans, are included in comparisons of buprenorphine starts and how long people stayed on treatment before and after pandemic-era policy changes. Researchers will focus on groups who have faced limited access to buprenorphine, such as veterans in underserved communities or with prior barriers to care. They will combine the record review with interviews and other qualitative methods to hear directly from patients and providers about barriers and facilitators. The team will map where access improved and where gaps persisted across the Veterans Health Administration.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are veterans with opioid use disorder who received or sought care within the VA around 2019–2022, especially those who previously had limited access to buprenorphine.
Not a fit: People who are not enrolled in VA care or who received all their treatment outside the VA are unlikely to be directly included or to receive immediate benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide VA and national policies to expand fair access to buprenorphine and reduce overdose risk among veterans.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research showed that telehealth and relaxed prescribing rules increased buprenorphine access during the pandemic, and this project builds on those findings to see which groups benefited or still faced barriers.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Emily Caterina — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Williams, Emily Caterina
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.