Opioid use disorder treatment will be covered under CMS' 2020 physician fee schedule final rule.
Three things to know:
1. The rule is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2020, and will cover therapies like methadone, as well as in-person and virtual visits to opioid treatment programs.
2. Medicare will pay opioid treatment programs in bundled payments for weekly episodes of care including substance use counseling, dispensing and administration of medications to treat opioid use disorder and toxicology testing, among other therapies. Additionally, CMS is establishing new bundled payment for opioid treatment programs in office and outpatient settings, including group psychotherapy and counseling.
3. Medicare beneficiaries won't have a copay for opioid treatment programs in 2020.