GAO: CMS should ensure states comply with MAT coverage requirements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should determine the extent to which state Medicaid programs comply with federal requirements to cover medication-assisted treatment in all formats, and take actions as appropriate to ensure compliance, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released today. Congress asked GAO to review access barriers to MAT medications. GAO found that some state policies, such as prior authorization requirements and mandated distribution methods, can restrict Medicaid beneficiaries' access to MAT.