Certain opioid treatment support at risk if Medicaid cuts made, lawmakers say

A bipartisan panel of Democrats is set to release a report on Monday highlighting the potential consequences of substantial cuts to Medicaid. The report warns that more than 100,000 beneficiaries could lose access to subsidized medication treatment for opioid use, particularly amid the fentanyl crisis.

Senator Maggie Hassan, the lead Democrat on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, emphasized the critical role of addiction treatment in combating the fentanyl crisis. She pointed out that Medicaid enables one million people to receive medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, which is considered the gold standard of addiction care.

Hassan expressed concerns about proposals to slash Medicaid funding, which she believes could jeopardize addiction care at a time when the country is making progress in addressing the fentanyl crisis. She criticized President Trump and Congressional Republicans for prioritizing tax breaks for corporate special interests and billionaires over funding essential healthcare services.

The report highlighted that several states have laws in place that would automatically halt Medicaid expansion subsidies if federal funding is cut. For instance, Arizona has a trigger law that would terminate Medicaid expansion if federal funding falls below 80%.

The panel’s findings also noted a recent 24% drop in overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024, with the CDC attributing this decline to access to medication and evidence-based treatment for addiction patients. The White House has outlined drug policy priorities that include efforts to provide treatment leading to long-term recovery and increase the number of individuals receiving evidence-based treatment.

While the Trump administration aims to expand access to medication-assisted opioid treatment and overdose prevention education, Hassan’s panel warned that state trigger laws could pose a challenge by potentially eliminating Medicaid coverage.

Overall, the report underscores the importance of maintaining Medicaid funding to ensure that individuals struggling with addiction have access to essential treatment services. It remains to be seen how lawmakers will address these concerns and prioritize healthcare initiatives amidst the ongoing fentanyl crisis.