NORC is implementing a survey of providers who prescribe buprenorphine and opioid treatment programs

The survey is part of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' SUPPORT Act Evaluation.

About the SUPPORT Act Program
The Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act was enacted on October 24, 2018. Section 1003 of the SUPPORT Act authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in consultation with the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to conduct a 54-month demonstration project (the section 1003 Demonstration) designed to increase the capacity of Medicaid providers to deliver substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, including opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment or recovery services.

Section 1003 of the SUPPORT Act also requires that there be an evaluation of the demonstration. IBM Consulting is conducting a mixed-methods evaluation of the section 1003 Demonstration with support from NORC.

The web-based survey started in January, 2023 and will last approximately two months.
The primary purpose of the provider survey is to gather information on provider experiences related to changes in OUD medication treatment, including barriers and enablers of prescribing. Findings from this survey will help CMS, SAMHSA, and AHRQ understand how SUPPORT Act-related activities are working to improve provider capacity to prevent and treat opioid use disorder among vulnerable populations across the country.

Invitations to participate in the web survey will be mailed (via USPS) or emailed during in the fall of 2022 to providers who deliver OUD treatment services. We are surveying providers who likely prescribe buprenorphine or administer methadone or other medication for opioid use disorder to Medicaid beneficiaries in the 15 states that received SUPPORT Act funding. In addition to the web-based survey described below, NORC is also administering focus groups of providers who treat Medicaid beneficiaries experiencing OUD and other SUD.

Questions and Responses

• If I receive an invitation to participate, it is important that I do so?

Yes! Absolutely! If you were asked to participate, it is very important that your experiences are represented. Findings from this survey are critical for understanding how SUPPORT Act-related activities are working, and how they could be improved to better serve Medicaid beneficiaries across the country

• How do I complete my survey?

Look for an email from SUPPORT-Act@norc.org or a letter invitation to take the survey. The email or letter will contain a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a URL and QR code for you to take the survey online.

• How did you receive my name and email/mailing address?

We obtained your contact information from the SAMHSA Buprenorphine Practitioner Locator, the state Medicaid agency, or from the State Opioid Treatment Authority.