Healthcare Stigma Limits Access to Addiction Treatment for Medicaid Patients
Clinician stigma toward patients with substance use disorders creates barriers to treatment access, according to audience feedback on a recent examination of provider attitudes. The discussion highlights how negative perceptions among doctors and other healthcare professionals prevent many patients with alcohol or drug use disorders from receiving needed care. For Medicaid programs, where substance use disorder treatment is a mandatory benefit under the mental health parity requirements and increasingly delivered through managed care, clinician attitudes directly affect network adequacy, quality metrics, and member outcomes. The issue is particularly acute as states expand coverage for medication-assisted treatment and behavioral health integration.
Clinician stigma undermines Medicaid managed care plans' ability to meet network adequacy standards for behavioral health and threatens compliance with mental health parity requirements for substance use disorder treatment.
Behavioral Health · Managed Care
You might also like