When Congress passed HR 6, the “Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act” (also known as SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act) as its response to the opioid epidemic, it included provisions to expand capacity in Medicare and includes preventative measures for a population that is vulnerable to opioid-use disorder.

An analysis of Medicare Part D data by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General revealed that more than 500,000 Medicare Part D beneficiaries received high amounts of opioids in 2016, with the dose far exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended amount. Beyond the treatment of addiction, opioid use can also pose health risks such as breathing complications, confusion, drug interaction problems and increased falls, which can—in itself—pose significant health problems for elderly patients. In 2014, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality published a report demonstrating that elderly females had a higher rate of opioid-related inpatient stays than elderly males and the rate of opioid-related inpatient stays was highest among those age 65 and older in 13 states. The report highlighted a need to expand capacity for treatment and increase ways to identify at-risk Medicare patients.

Inclusion of Opioid Treatment Programs

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