Medicaid expansion boosted access to opioid addiction treatment medication, study says

By: Shalina Chatlani

Outlets: Stateline

Published: April 10, 2026

Words: 498

Last Updated: 3 months, 3 weeks ago

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In the eight states that expanded Medicaid after 2018, the number of people receiving prescriptions for the opioid addiction treatment medication buprenorphine increased dramatically, according to a paper that researchers will present next month.

The states that expanded Medicaid before that period also saw gains, but they were generally smaller. That’s because other changes, aside from Medicaid expansion, made buprenorphine easier to get after 2018.

The researchers found that among all patients — those covered …

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