Prior authorization restrictions on medications for opioid use disorder: trends in state laws from 2005 to 2019.

ABSTRACT:

Research objective

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) - including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone - are the most effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD). Historically, insurers have required prior authorization for MOUD, but prior authorization is often reported as a key barrier to MOUD prescribing. Some states have passed laws prohibiting MOUD prior authorization requirements. We sought to identify the frequency of MOUD prior authorization prohibitions in state laws and to categorize types of prohibitions.

Methods

We searched for regulations and statutes present in all U.S. states and Washington DC between 2005 and 2019 using MOUD-related terms in Westlaw legal software. In qualitative software, we coded laws discussing MOUD prior authorization

SUBMITTER: Andraka-Christou B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9897778 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature