Research & Publications

Summary

This retrospective analysis used Inovalon’s MORE² Registry® — a nationally representative closed-claims database — to evaluate trends in opioid use disorder (OUD) from 2021–2024 across three insured populations: commercially insured, Managed Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage. The study assessed OUD diagnosis rates, opioid-related hospitalizations, and receipt of guideline-recommended therapy (buprenorphine, naltrexone, or methadone) within 30 days of discharge following an OUD-related hospitalization. Results were stratified by insurance type, sex, and age group among adults aged ≥18 years with continuous enrollment.

Key Findings

• OUD diagnosis rates differed by insurance type:
  In 2024, patients covered by Managed Medicaid had the highest OUD diagnosis rate (3.1%), compared with Medicare Advantage (2.0%) and commercially insured populations (0.6%).
• Hospitalization trends varied across insurance types:
  • OUD-related hospitalizations increased from 2021 to 2024 for commercially insured patients from (14.0% to 16.1%) and for Medicare Advantage patients (11.2% to 12.2%).
  • Hospitalizations decreased among patients with Managed Medicaid coverage (17.0% to 15.9%).
• Receipt of recommended therapy following hospitalization remained low:
  • Only 31.3% of commercially insured patients and 19.8% of Medicare Advantage patients received recommended therapy within 30 days of discharge.
• Disparities by demographic group:
  • A higher proportion of males experienced an OUD-related hospitalization compared to females (16.4% vs. 14.6%), and males were slightly more likely to receive therapy (31.0% vs. 28.5%).
  • Hospitalizations were highest among adults aged 18–34 (18.8%) and lowest among adults aged ≥65 (12.0%).
  • Receipt of recommended therapy was highest among adults aged 18–34 (36.0%) and lowest among adults aged ≥65 (11.8%).

Why This Matters

Disparities in OUD diagnosis rates, hospitalizations, and receipt of recommended therapies were evident across insurance type, age, and sex. Notably, fewer than one-third of commercially insured OUD patients, and fewer than one-fifth of Medicare Advantage patients, received recommended therapy within 30 days of opioid-related hospitalization. According to the study, treatment after hospitalization represents a critical opportunity window for interventions that can greatly reduce risk of overdose and death.

Learn More

Read the full abstract (AMCP Nexus):
https://amcpnexus.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/JMCP%20Supplement%20-%20Poster%20Abstracts%20Nexus%202025.pdf

Explore more insights in our white paper:
https://www.inovalon.com/resource/trends-in-opioid-use-disorder/