Utilization of long-acting injectable monthly depot buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD) in Kentucky, before and after COVID-19 related buprenorphine access policy changes.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAI-bup) formulations have advantages over transmucosal buprenorphine (TM-bup), but barriers may limit their utilization. Several policies shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote buprenorphine access. The federal government expanded telemedicine treatment for opioid use disorder and Kentucky (KY) Medicaid lifted prior authorization requirements (PAs) for LAI-bup (i.e., Sublocade®). This retrospective cohort study evaluated changes in LAI-bup access, utilization, and retention before and after these policy changes in KY.

Methods

Individual-level TM-bup and LAI-bup dispensing record data from KY's prescription drug monitoring program examined LAI-bup utilization and retention, without a >30-day gap in coverage, for pat

SUBMITTER: Hammerslag LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11986849 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature