From the press release-
CMS announces new Medicaid policy to combat the opioid crisis by increasing access to treatment options
Approves demonstrations in both New Jersey and Utah
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new policy to allow states to design demonstration projects that increase access to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD). CMS’s new demonstration policy responds to the President’s directive and provides states with greater flexibility to design programs that improve access to high quality, clinically appropriate treatment. In addition, CMS is announcing the immediate approval of both New Jersey and Utah’s demonstration waivers under the new policy.
Through this updated policy, states will be able to pay for a fuller continuum of care to treat SUD, including critical treatment in residential treatment facilities that Medicaid is unable to pay for without a waiver.
“This new demonstration policy comes as a direct result of the President’s commitment to address the opioid crisis and ensure states have immediate relief and flexibility,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “Previous policies ignored the growing urgency of the national opioid epidemic and instead put onerous requirements on states that ultimately prevented individuals from accessing these needed services. The Trump Administration’s approach reflects the pressing nature of the issues states are facing on the ground.”
Previously, states had been required to build out their entire delivery system for SUD treatment while also meeting rigid CMS standards before Medicaid demonstration approvals could be granted. The new policy will allow states to provide greater treatment options while improving their continuum of care over time…
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-new-medicaid-policy-combat-opioid-crisis-increasing-access-treatment-options
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-new-medicaid-policy-combat-opioid-crisis-increasing-access-treatment-options