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First State receives more federal funds to battle opioid crisis

Delaware Public Media

Delaware is getting another 3.5 million in federal dollars to help with the state’s opioid crisis.

 

The latest federal opioid grant awarded to the First State is unique in that it comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

 

Most of the state’s federal opioid funding comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than $50 million in the last three years.

But the new dollars will be targeted towards the state’s Medicaid providers.

Dr. Elizabeth Brown is Delaware’s Medical Director in the Division of Medicare and Medicaid Services. She says primary care practices in the state are set to receive the necessary waivers, training and infrastructure to provide medication assisted treatment from their offices.

 

“There’s definitely a lot of people affected with opioid use disorder who need inpatient treatment, but a majority can actually be treated in an outpatient setting," said Brown. "We just need the providers to have the knowledge and resources to be able to provide that treatment.”  

 

Brown adds the grant will allow her agency to consider adjusting the reimbursement rate for Medicaid providers.

 

“We also are going to take a look at our reimbursement rates and our method of reimbursement as we move more towards value-based reimbursement in health care," said Brown.

 

Delaware is one of 16 states to receive the grant.