The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Examines Federal Policy for Substance Use Disorder Treatment

A new analysis from health policy researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) gives an overview of five federal policies for substance use disorder (SUD) and the ways they changed during the pandemic.  The report covers regulations related to buprenorphine medication, methadone dispensing programs, Medicaid for SUD treatment in prisons, and how state laws may limit federal efforts.  An action taken by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in 2021 was cited as potentially beneficial to rural areas because it would allow mobile units for accredited opioid treatment programs;  the adoption of this initiative has been somewhat limited with 27 mobile treatment programs registered across 13 states.