Emergency department (ED)–based initiation of buprenorphine has been shown to increase engagement in outpatient treatment and reduce the risk of subsequent opioid overdose; however, rates of buprenorphine treatment in the ED and follow-up care for opioid use disorder (OUD) remain low in the U.S. In response to high opioid overdose death rates, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) implemented the Opioid Hospital Quality Improvement Program (O-HQIP) in 2019. The O-HQIP is the first statewide financial incentive program designed to increase engagement in OUD treatment, including buprenorphine treatment, for Medicaid-enrolled patients who have ED encounters. This cohort cohort study of 17, 428 Medicaid-enrolled patients demonstrated that the O-HQIP was associated with an increased initiation of buprenorphine in patients with OUD presenting to the ED. These findings suggest that statewide incentive programs may effectively improve outcomes for patients with OUD.
Published March 24, 2023
Sign up to receive our monthly Research Roundup email, which offers a selection of new public health research from major journals.
Recent Abstracts
Trouble Brewing – The Case for Alcohol Policy (Second Edition)
Lessons from Vietnam’s Campaign for a Tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
Principles of Alcohol Taxation
Clean Air in Jakarta: Gaps and Possibilities Toward Low Emission Practices
Public Attitudes Towards Alcohol Policy: South Africa
Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework for Medical Certification of Cause of Death and…
More Data Better Health: Climate and Health in the Legal Amazon
Mais Dados Mais Saúde: Clima e Saúde na Amazônia Legal
Health Taxes Action Guide
Opinión pública frente a la política de alcohol: Colombia