Key Highlights
- 72.3% of in-network insurance patients retained opioid treatment for at least 180 days, significantly higher than out-of-network or uninsured patients.
- The study analyzed 3,842 patients, comparing outcomes between in-network and cash-pay individuals in telehealth-based opioid treatment.
- Medicaid beneficiaries showed nearly twice the retention rate of uninsured cash-pay patients, emphasizing insurance’s impact on treatment accessibility.
Source: PR Newswire
Notable Quotes
- “When people are ready to seek OUD treatment, there should be no financial hurdles preventing them from receiving care,” – Dr. Arthur Robin Williams, Chief Medical Officer at Ophelia
- “The results of this study prove that the opioid crisis…requires participation from health insurers,” – Zack Gray, CEO and co-founder at Ophelia
SoHC's Take
The disparity in opioid treatment retention rates between insured and uninsured patients underscores a crucial issue within our healthcare system. Ophelia’s study, published in Health Affairs, not only shines a light on this gap but also emphasizes the importance of insurance in ensuring patients have the necessary support for recovery. With Medicaid beneficiaries demonstrating significantly higher retention rates, the study calls for a broader healthcare dialogue on how to make opioid addiction treatment more accessible, especially in a telehealth-driven era. Addressing the financial hurdles faced by out-of-network and uninsured patients is not just about improving individual outcomes; it’s about taking a stand against the opioid crisis at large. The study’s findings urge health insurers and providers to expand their networks and embrace telehealth options, ensuring that when someone decides to seek treatment, the pathway is clear and unobstructed.
