The recent Republican tax bill has sparked concerns among health economics researchers regarding its potential impact on individuals seeking treatment for opioid addiction. A group of researchers from Boston University and the University of Pennsylvania have estimated that the bill’s cuts to Medicaid could result in a significant increase in fatal overdoses among those with opioid use disorder.
According to their policy memo addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, the researchers project that approximately 156,000 people could lose access to treatment for opioid use disorder as a result of the bill. This loss of access to medications like methadone and buprenorphine, which are crucial for managing opioid addiction, could lead to a doubling of the overdose rate among this group, resulting in approximately 1,000 additional fatal overdoses each year.
The researchers based their estimates on data from the Congressional Budget Office and existing research showing that individuals using medications for opioid addiction are significantly less likely to die from drug overdoses. By utilizing a public health modeling tool tailored to the opioid crisis, they were able to map out the potential impacts of the bill on individuals with opioid use disorder.
Dr. Benjamin Linas, a physician-researcher from Boston University and co-author of the memo, highlighted the importance of medication-assisted treatment in reducing overdose rates. He explained that individuals on medication for opioid use disorder had lower overdose rates compared to those without access to such treatment.
Despite recent declines in drug overdose deaths, Medicaid remains a critical source of funding for addiction treatment in the United States. The researchers warned that deep cuts to the program could jeopardize the progress made in addressing the overdose epidemic.
The findings of the researchers align with the consensus in the addiction medicine community that medications like methadone and buprenorphine are highly effective in reducing overdose deaths. However, stigma and underutilization still pose significant barriers to accessing these life-saving treatments, with only about one-fifth of Americans with opioid use disorder receiving them.
Regina LaBelle, a former Obama administration drug policy official and addiction policy professor at Georgetown University, expressed alarm at the estimated impact of the tax law on individuals with opioid use disorder. She noted that the estimate focused on a specific population at risk of fatal overdoses due to loss of insurance coverage and medication access, suggesting that the actual impact could be even greater.
The researchers’ projections underscore the urgent need to prioritize access to evidence-based treatments for opioid addiction. As the nation continues to grapple with the overdose crisis, ensuring that individuals have access to medications and support services is crucial in preventing unnecessary loss of life.
