Issue Brief: How Have COVID-Era Flexibilities Affected OUD Treatment?

To sustain access to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) during the coronavirus pandemic, federal policymakers changed some of the regulations governing the prescribing and use of medications for OUD (MOUD), including allowing some take-home methadone doses and greater use of telehealth visits. In a new issue brief, we report the findings of FORE-supported researchers who surveyed nearly 500 MOUD patients and nearly 400 providers to explore how these changes affected them. Findings from these projects hold lessons for policymakers who are now considering whether to retain these flexibilities and what else may be needed to bring lifesaving treatment to more people.