COVID-19 Impact on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder Participants, Treatment, and Outcomes: Disparate COVID-19 Vulnerability and Impact of Unique Natural Experiments

During the pandemic, policymakers in New Jersey and other states have relaxed regulations for prescribing medications for opioid use disorder for Medicaid beneficiaries. This project would analyze Medicaid data and interviews with opioid treatment providers to see how the policy changes and resulting treatment adaptations, including increased telemedicine usage, longer methadone take-home doses, reduced drug screening, and reduced in-person counseling, have affected access to care and treatment outcomes.