Beginning January 1, 2020, Medicare will pay opioid treatment programs (OTPs) a bundled payment for providing treatment to Medicare beneficiaries and beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. This Guidance to State Medicaid Agencies clarifies that OTPs must enroll with Medicare in order for Medicare to become the primary payer for services provided to dually-eligible beneficiaries and offers interim reimbursement solutions while providers go through the Medicare enrollment process. There are few OTPs in rural areas, yet rural health providers are hopeful that increased access to medication-assisted therapy, such as that provided in OTPs, can have a positive impact on rural opioid use. Read more here.
