The Legal Action Center recently released an issue brief, “Two Plans Are Not Always Better Than One: Barriers to Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Dual-Eligible Individuals,” that identifies the unique barriers to substance use disorder treatment that dual-eligible individuals face, and measures for providing more seamless access to care. It includes the following recommendations for policy makers:
- Incentivize and promote integration of Medicare and Medicaid benefits, with a focus on comprehensive care for substance use disorders.
- Incentivize providers to equitably treat dual-eligible individuals with substance use disorders, particularly Black and brown individuals, and reduce beneficiary cost sharing.
- Streamline and strengthen processes for accessing benefits for substance use disorder treatment.
- Apply the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act to all parts of Medicare.
- Improve enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in Medicaid.
February 2, 2024 – K. Kertesz