Testing for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C increased among U.S. Medicaid enrollees initiating treatment for opioid use disorder. However, a recent study showed approximately three-quarters of enrollees were not tested for each condition.
“Limited information exists about testing for HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus among persons enrolled in Medicaid who are starting medication treatment for their opioid use disorder, despite guidelines recommending such testing,” Katherine Ahrens, PhD, epidemiologist and assistant research professor in the Public Health Program at the University of Southern Maine Muskie School of Public Service, told Healio. “Testing for these conditions is recommended because past or current injection drug use is common among persons starting medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and highly effective treatments exist for all three diseases that lower the risk of subsequent morbidity, prevent disease transmission, and are cost-saving.”
