Virtual care for opioid use disorder
Telemedicine for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
This project looks at how virtual (video or phone) treatment and pharmacy dispensing affect access to buprenorphine for adults with opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173855 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have opioid use disorder, this project uses national insurance and pharmacy records to see how people get care by video, phone, or in person. The team will compare patients treated by clinicians who provide fully virtual care with those treated by other clinicians and will study whether audio-only (phone) visits work as well as video. They will also track how many pharmacies dispense buprenorphine and whether pharmacy decisions affect patient outcomes. The work draws on Medicare, Medicaid, commercial claims, and national pharmacy data to analyze large numbers of real-world patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with opioid use disorder, especially those receiving care covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial insurance, are the most relevant group.
Not a fit: People under 21, the uninsured, or patients whose prescriptions aren't captured in the national pharmacy data may not be represented or benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make it easier to access buprenorphine via telehealth and help shape policies that expand safe treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work from this team and others, including 24 published papers from the first funding period, has documented tele‑OUD growth and quality questions, and this renewal builds on that evidence while addressing remaining gaps.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huskamp, Haiden a. — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Huskamp, Haiden a.
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.