ASPE Issue Brief

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As the opioid epidemic has evolved into a national crisis, the need for treatment has increased greatly. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is a “whole-patient” approach to the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) that combines the use of medications and psychosocial supports, such as therapy, counseling, self-help groups, and case management.

This brief outlines actionable steps that program designers at the federal, state, or local level can take to build or use aligned measures across programs in ways that can improve program management and increase service coordination.

By statute, the majority of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are eligible for Medicare, regardless of age. Kidney transplantation is ultimately considered the best treatment for ESRD, but ESRD-related eligibility for Medicare coverage extends for only 36 months post-transplant.

Between 1996 and 2013, there was a 54% decrease in the incidence of diabetes-related end-stage renal disease (ESRD-DM) in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/ AN) populations. This decline has occurred since the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) was established in 1997.

Medicare beneficiaries in inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs) have complex conditions that require sustained engagement with physical and mental health care providers. People who receive care from IPFs are at risk for a range of negative health outcomes, but surprisingly little is known about their patterns of care.

This Issue Brief represents the finding of a white paper prepared by RTI under funding from ASPE. The analysis included a programs scan of policy initiatives in 21 states and individual interviews with academics, federal experts, state officials and individual providers.

This project examined current collaborations between housing providers and health care providers. Recent delivery system reforms have provided new or expanded opportunities at the state, local, and organizational level to forge collaborations between health care and housing providers.

This brief describes findings from the ASPE chartbook "Older Adults with Dementia and Their Caregivers: Key Indicators from the National Health and Aging Trends Study".

This Issue Brief was informed by an ASPE-funded study conducted by RTI International that assessed the use of telehealth to identify and manage SUDs in rural areas. The final research brief included an environmental scan and site visits with participants that represented a wide range of telehealth experiences throughout the country.