Recently, 60 Minutes did a feature on America’s “Opioid Crisis” and the roles of subscribers (doctors) and the pharmaceutical companies. Who’s to blame? Is it a “chicken” or “egg” problem?
Our government is paying attention. In 2018 President Trump signed into law the “Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities.” Like, any piece of legislation it was given an acronym, the SUPPORT Act of 2018. This legislation is a result of new statistics that Medicaid covers services for four (4) in ten (10) non-elderly adults with opiod addiction.
Medicaid provides access to treatment of opioid addicts by covering inpatient and outpatient services, as well as medications prescribed as part of medication-assisted treatment programs. Not dismissing the reality of the problem, or the necessity of addressing resolutions, Medicaid (a federally funded program—which means that we all financially support it) is further stretched to assist with this crisis. What will be the impact universally for the federal budget?
It is well known that the majority of elderly Americans rely on Medicaid , not only medical care but long term care. How far can the program be stretched with the budgeted dollars available to it? Perhaps, a conversation with your representatives as to the future of Medicaid is in order. Think about it!