Center’s Analysis Suggests Treatment for Heroin Addiction is Cost Effective

The Center conducted a study to determine if the expansion of buprenorphine as a strategy for battling opioid addiction is cost-effective. Commissioned by the Baltimore City Health Department and funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the study used Medicaid data to examine health care service utilization differences between opioid addicts who were treated for their addiction versus those who went untreated, reviewed the literature, and estimated clinical and financial benefits and costs. The study’s results supported the value and effectiveness of opioid maintenance therapy (OMT), and suggested that expanding treatment access has the potential to reduce both individual suffering and the overall societal burden associated with opioid dependence without increasing the cost of medical care. The research also indicated that expanding OMT has the potential to save the publicly financed health care system money by reducing heroin-associated morbidity in Medicaid and other insured and uninsured populations. Researchers estimated the cost savings and found that Baltimore City could save over $4,000,000.00 per year if utilization of OMT were expanded. View the study’s five reports:

An Evaluation of Whether Medical Savings are Associated with Expanding Opioid Maintenance Therapy for Heroin Addiction in Baltimore City, August 28, 2007

Comparing Pre-Treatment to Post-Treatment Medicaid Utilization in Individuals who Enter Methadone Therapy, August 15, 2007

Opioid Exposure in Maryland Hospitals, July 2007

Review of Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Literature for Methadone or Buprenorphine as a Treatment for Opiate Addiction, August 29, 2007

Heroin Addiction Treatment Correlates in Maryland, March 12, 2007

January 10, 2008