Your Guide to Virginia Medicaid Coverage and Opioid Addiction Treatment
Your Guide to Virginia Medicaid Coverage and Opioid Addiction Treatment In the face of our nation’s opioid crisis, Virginia stands as a pioneer for positive change. The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) recently rolled out significant Medicaid policy changes that increase both Medicaid eligibility and access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) – a lifesaving treatment for people struggling with opioid addiction. MAT combines anti-addiction medications like buprenorphine – known by its brand name Suboxone – with behavioral therapy and case management. Studies show MAT can reduce the death rate among opioid addiction patients by half or more. Additional research shows anti-addiction medications do a better job of keeping people in treatment than treatments that don’t use anti-addiction medications. With wider access to Medicaid and a growing [...]