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Impact of Federal and State Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Policy Changes During the Pandemic

Comparing Treatment Use, Retention, and Patient Outcomes Pre- and Post-implementation of Federal Policy Changes Regulating Buprenorphine and Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Substance use disorder (alcohol and/or opioid) documented in the Veteran's Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW)

Exclusion Criteria:

* None

About the study

"Gold-standard" medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment combines FDA-approved medications, primarily methadone and buprenorphine, with behavioral therapies to provide "whole-patient" treatment. Prior to the pandemic, methadone and buprenorphine were subject to greater federal regulations than medications for other substance use disorders, including medication for alcohol use disorder (MAUD), which created barriers to MOUD initiation and retention. These barriers were exacerbated by physical distancing and diminished clinic capacities during the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent healthcare disruption and expand access to MOUD treatment during the public health emergency, federal and state authorities implemented several MOUD policy changes during the pandemic to reduce barriers to MOUD initiation and retention, which subsequently became permanent.

This study is an evaluation of the impacts of these policies on treatment use, retention, and patient outcomes pre- and post-MOUD policy implementation.

Sponsor: Boston University · Participants: 185,810 · Started: Jun 30, 2026

Contact the study team

• Nicholas Livingston, PhD · Phone: 857-364-6612

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07232641

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Drug Use and Addiction
• Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
• Opioid Overdose

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.