Utah Mindfulness Therapy for Opioid Misuse Shows Cost Savings in Economic Analysis

A new economic analysis of a University of Utah mindfulness-based treatment for opioid misuse found potential savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars per patient when accounting for healthcare, criminal justice, and lost productivity costs. The study builds on earlier research demonstrating the therapy's clinical effectiveness in reducing opioid misuse. The analysis did not specify implementation timelines or whether the intervention is currently covered by Medicaid in any state.