Impact of Medicaid expansion and methadone coverage as a medication for opioid use disorder on foster care entries during the opioid crisis. (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Shichao; Matjasko, Jennifer L.; Harper, Christopher R.; Rostad, Whitney L.; Ports, Katie A.; Strahan, Andrea E.; Florence, Curtis
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 130(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Foster care -- Medicaid expansion -- Opioid use disorder -- Child abuse and neglect -- Methadone; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106249
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Highlights: We examined the impact of certain health policies on foster care entries. Foster care entries decreased in states with Medicaid expansion and methadone covered. The largest reduction was found among non-Hispanic Black and the youngest children. Abstract: Between 2012 and 2018, incidents of opioid-involved injuries surged and the number of children in foster care due to parental drug use disorder increased. Treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) might prevent or reduce the amount of time that children spend in the child welfare system. Using administrative data, we examined the impact of Medicaid expansion and state support for methadone as a medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) on first-time foster care placements. Results show that first-time foster care entries due to parental drug use disorder experienced a reduction of 28 per 100, 000 children in Medicaid expansion states with methadone MOUD covered by their state Medicaid programs. The largest reduction was found among non-Hispanic Black children and the youngest children (age 0–1 years). Policies that increase OUD treatment access may reduce foster care placements by reducing parents' drug use, a risk factor for child abuse/neglect and subsequent home removal.