KUNC
Colorado’s Medicaid program is expanding its substance use disorder benefit to include new services like residential treatment programs.
Colorado is increasing addiction treatment for Medicaid members.
Starting on Jan. 1, Health First Colorado will expand its substance use disorder (SUD) benefit. Residential and inpatient treatment and withdrawal management services, including detox, will be added to Medicaid’s existing list of covered services.
The new services will be an entitlement benefit, giving Medicaid members access to a full range of treatment options. This continuum of care is important, said Laurel Karabatsos, deputy Medicaid director at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance, especially with the impacts of COVID-19 and the state’s ongoing opioid crisis.