The federal government sought to improve providers’ ability to treat opioid use disorder (OUD).

The SUPPORT Act, enacted on October 24, 2018, strengthened the nation’s response to substance use disorder. SUPPORT stands for Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities. The act authorized the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and in consultation with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to implement a 54‑month demonstration project. The project aimed to increase the capacity of Medicaid providers to deliver substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, including opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and recovery services.

NORC surveyed clinicians and opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to understand the challenges of providing medication for OUD.  

The survey was part of a mixed-methods evaluation of the SUPPORT Act, led by IBM Consulting. Findings from this survey helped CMS, SAMHSA, and AHRQ understand how SUPPORT Act-related activities worked to improve provider capacity to prevent and treat OUD across the country. The survey was fielded to providers in the 15 states that received SUPPORT Act funding and was tailored to those who serve Medicaid beneficiaries. The first round was conducted in the winter of 2023, and the next round was implemented from January to March of 2024. In addition to the web-based survey, NORC conducted focus groups with providers who provide substance use disorder treatment in the five SUPPORT Act Post-Planning (Demonstration) states.