The impact of peer support on treatment engagement for Medicaid patients with substance use disorder
Official title: The impact of peer support in treatment engagement and adverse events for Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorder: a mixed-methods study
Funded at Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ · NIH-11408816 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly look at how peer support might help adults on Medicaid stay in treatment for substance use disorder and reduce adverse events.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $823,377 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA062431-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408816 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with substance use disorder who are enrolled in Medicaid and are seeking, or receiving, treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not currently seeking or engaged in SUD treatment may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project asks how trained peer supporters can help adults with substance use disorder stay engaged in treatment under Medicaid. It uses a mix of methods to understand what works in real-world settings, including stories from people with SUD and data from health records. The goal is to identify ways peer support improves engagement, adherence, and safety while respecting patients’ preferences and experiences. If successful, findings could guide programs that integrate peer support into Medicaid-funded SUD services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, the project could lead to better retention in treatment and fewer adverse events for people with SUD who are on Medicaid.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work on peer support shows mixed results; this study aims to clarify effectiveness in Medicaid settings using mixed methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Jiani — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Yu, Jiani
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Co-treated care for substance use and heart infection at UVMMC
A hospital-based project aims to improve how doctors and teams treat people with both substance use disorder and infective endocarditis during their hospital stay.
-
Genetics study of methamphetamine use disorder in Thai people
A genetics study in Thailand is looking at how genes may influence methamphetamine use disorder and related behaviors.
-
PROTECT-ED: Rapid care connects people just released from jail to HIV and overdose prevention
A program in the emergency department helps people who just left jail get started on medications for opioid use disorder and HIV prevention right away and connect them to ongoing care.
-
Justice Core: Helping pregnant women with substance use get treatment while in jail
A pragmatic trial will test whether a jail diversion program (Justice Core) improves access to treatment and perinatal outcomes for pregnant women with substance use issues compared to usual referral after jail release.
-
Adapting with Proactive SUD Intervention via Disease Intervention Specialists
A new program uses a proven outreach model to identify and connect people with substance use disorder to care earlier, by applying DIS tactics to SUD in communities.
-
ED-based Screening and Brief Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Disorder
A Purdue-led project will test if ED-based screening plus a brief in-person motivational talk and follow-up telehealth coaching can reduce risky substance use and prevent future disorder in diverse adults.
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.