Factors Affecting Buprenorphine Utilization and Spending in Medicaid, 2002-2018

ObjectiveBuprenorphine is an essential medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), but studies show it has been underused over last 2 decades. We sought to evaluate utilization and spending on buprenorphine formulations in Medicaid impact key market regulatory factors affecting availability different generic versions.MethodsWe first identified all approved by Food Drug Administration OUD using [email protected] then used National Codes identify each drug State Utilization Data extracted annual rates between 2002 2018 according whether a brand-name or version was dispensed. compared these trends that affected competition, which we through searching Federal Register, Westlaw, PubMed, Google News.ResultsBrand-name buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual tablet film (Suboxone) were dispensed 2.7 times more (n = 634 213 140) reimbursed 4.4 $4 440 556 473) than other combined 237 769 689; $1 018 988 133). numerous contributed estimated 9-year delay versions formulation 6-year formulation.ConclusionsBrand-name have widely Medicaid, leading substantial costs, part because delayed multiple years owing factors. Timely low-cost generics could helped encourage with during height crisis.