MACPAC issues June report to Congress

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission today released its June report to Congress, which includes a chapter examining how Medicaid programs are responding to the opioid epidemic. According to the report, Medicaid beneficiaries are prescribed pain relievers at higher rates than those with other sources of insurance and have a higher risk of overdose from opioids. However, they also have higher treatment rates for opioid use disorders than privately insured adults. While state Medicaid programs are responding to the opioid crisis by covering treatment, innovating in care delivery and working to reduce misuse of prescriptive opioids, they vary considerably in the services they cover because many Medicaid addiction services are optional, MACPAC said. The report also examines spending on Medicaid’s mandatory and optional populations and services, and federal and state activities to ensure program integrity in Medicaid managed care.