An examination of telehealth policy impacts on initial rural opioid use disorder treatment patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Phillip M HughesGenevieve VerrastroCarriedelle Wilson FuscoCourtenay Gilmore WilsonBayla M M OstrachPublished in: The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association (2021)
The patterns of MOUD care utilization during this period demonstrate the effectiveness of telehealth in this area. Policy changes allowing for MOUD to be delivered via telehealth, waiving the need for in-person initiation of MOUD, and increased Medicaid compensation for MOUD may play a valuable role in improving access to MOUD during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.