Medi-Cal Spending On Drugs To Treat Opioid Addiction Spikes 483% Since 2011
The increase is larger than most other states, a new report finds.
San Francisco Chronicle:
Medi-Cal Spending On Opioid Addiction Treatments Skyrockets
California’s health insurance program for the poor, Medi-Cal, has seen a greater rise in spending on prescription drugs to treat opioid use disorders — and a bigger increase in the number of the drugs the program pays for — than almost any other state, according to data from the Urban Institute think tank. (Ho, 3/27)
In other news on the crisis —
San Diego Union-Tribune:
County To Triple Spending To Treat Addiction
The county will begin rolling out a Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System, a state program that aims to provide a continuum of care for low-income residents facing addiction. The program, modeled after national evidence-based standards, is designed to address the systemic damage addiction inflicts on individuals, their families and their communities. The plan will increase the county Behavioral Health Services addiction budget from $54.6 million to $179.6 million. The majority of that increase will be funded by Medi-Cal. (3/28)