State

Researchers evaluate The Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to individuals recovering from opioid use in several counties in Eastern Kentucky, and conclude KATR demonstrates a potentially effective strategy for increasing health-related social services in rural areas.

In this decision analytical model study evaluating the distribution of 10 000 additional naloxone kits annually in Rhode Island, the strategy focusing on distribution of naloxone according to geographic need to people who inject drugs resulted in the best outcomes at the lowest cost, averting an estimated 25.3% of opioid overdose deaths at an incremental cost of $27 312 per opioid overdose death averted

Hepatitis C: State of Medicaid Access is a collaboration between the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School (CHLPI) and the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR). The project evaluates hepatitis C (HCV) treatment restriction policies across state Medicaid programs, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (referred to in this report as “states”). The goal of this project is to encourage states and empower advocates to work toward improved access to curative HCV treatment across all Medicaid programs, in order to ensure that every Medicaid enrollee who can benefit from this treatment is able to access it.

More than twenty percent of adults—or 1 in 5—experience a behavioral health disorder every year in the United States. Behavioral health disorders can be challenging to identify, screen for and treat, especially in rural communities and the supply of behavioral health providers often cannot meet the demand for services. This webinar highlighted state policy options to increase access to rural behavioral health providers, including leveraging telebehavioral health, considering licensing policies and compacts, utilizing emerging health professionals to address workforce gaps, and examining scope of practice policies for behavioral health professionals.

The presenter outlined the steps needed to effectively document, code, and bill for services including screening for SUD/OUD and providing care during the induction, stabilization, and maintenance phases of MAT. Individual state Medicaid issues are too numerous and were not specifically referred to on a state-by-state basis. Gary Lucas, MSHI, Arch Pro Coding

Created by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) is an interstate compact that facilitates the practice of psychology using telecommunications technologies (telepsychology) and/or temporary in-person, face-to-face psychological practice.

Drug overdose deaths in the United States hit a record high in 2017, with an estimated 72,000  deaths. Over two-thirds of those deaths, roughly 47,600, were due to opioids.These  staggering numbers continued in 2018, as over 67,000 drug overdose deaths occurred, and  opioids were involved in rough 46,800 of those overdose deaths. This roadmap highlights existing state efforts and serves as a policy development tool for Governors and state officials seeking to improve coordination and bolster existing efforts across state agencies to address OUD among people involved in the justice system by expanding access to evidence-based medications.

Drug overdose is a continuing epidemic that claimed the lives of over 67,000 Americans in 2018. Opioids, either alone or in combination with other substances, were responsible for approximately 70% of these deaths. Many of these lost lives and other opioid-related harms are preventable through the timely administration of the opioid reversal drug naloxone and, where appropriate, other follow-up care.

The 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) is a comprehensive assessment of the threat posed to the United States by the trafficking and abuse of illicit drugs, the diversion and abuse of licit drugs, and the laundering of proceeds generated through illicit drug sales. It also addresses the role domestic groups, including organized violent gangs, serve in domestic drug trafficking. The most widely trafficked drugs are discussed in terms of their availability, consumption and overdose related deaths, production and cultivation, transportation, and distribution.

The United States is facing a crisis of opioid-related overdose. At this time, more people die of overdose every year than died of AIDS at the peak of the HIV epidemic. Communities seek effective responses to prevent opioid death.