The new services that opioid treatment programs have adopted in response to COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 has exacerbated the opioid epidemic and transformed how programs treat opioid use disorder. In response to the pandemic, the federal government modified guidelines to allow opioid treatment programs (OTPs) greater flexibility in the provision of medication for opioid use disorder. We conducted a telephone survey of 31.10% of OTPs in the contiguous United States between June and July 2020. We contacted a random sample of 477 facilities and obtained responses from 373. The survey asked questions about new patient intake, screening for COVID-19, social distancing measures, as well as new treatments offered due to changes in federal government policy. We calculated percentages of positive and nonpositive responses to each survey question. We estimated logistic regressions of facility-, county- and state-level predictors of each treatment approach. Most OTPs are taking new patients (91%). Roughly 83% of them screen for COVID-19 symptoms for in-person visits and about 92% use social distancing measures. More than half of OTPs provide curbside treatment (83%) or telehealth (81%). Less than a quarter of OTPs offer medication drop off (21%) or pick up by a trusted person (32%) when patients need to quarantine due to COVID-19. Results from multivariable logistic regressions show that OTPs in states that had a shelter-in-place policy are more likely to socially distance for in-person visits than those in states without such a policy.

Trends in Engagement With Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Among Medicaid Beneficiaries During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Regulatory changes may have had a more muted effect in OTP settings for several reasons. Although some OTPs did incorporate telehealth services, new patients seeking methadone treatment were still required to complete in-person evaluations . Since methadone for OUD is only available through an OTP, the required in-person examination may have deterred patients from seeking care thereby contributing to decreased receipt of OTP services during the PHE.…”

Understanding the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facility Operations and Patient Success: Evidence From Mississippi

“…In the early pandemic period (June and July 2020), 81% of a sample of 373 opioid treatment programs had telehealth as an available service. 23 Alternatively, in April 2020 it was found that only about 27% of SUD treatment facilities in the U.S. provided telehealth. 24 Facilities in the sample also indicated that they have continued to offer telehealth services as the pandemic has progressed, with almost all facilities stating that they offered telehealth to their clients during the late pandemic period.…”