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SEPTEMBER 2, 2022

Expanded Telehealth Services for OUD During the Pandemic Lessened Overdose Risk in Medicare Beneficiaries

By Kate Baggaley

Medicare beneficiaries who received virtual care for opioid use disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic continued treatment longer and had decreased odds of experiencing a medically treated overdose, a new study indicates.

Researchers tracked 175,778 adults who initiated OUD care before or during the pandemic, when telehealth services were significantly expanded. The team observed a substantial uptick in telehealth utilization during the crisis. In addition, Medicare