In a groundbreaking analysis printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers from the non-profit RTI International have discovered that the rate of drug-related deaths among Medicaid beneficiaries is twice that of the general US population, covering all ages.
The analysis highlighted that in 2020, there were 54.6 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 among Medicaid recipients, compared to 27.9 for the broader US demographic. Notably, Medicaid beneficiaries, comprising just 25% of the population, tragically accounted for 48% (44,277 out of 91,799) of all drug-related fatalities across the country. Additionally, the period from 2016 to 2020 saw a 54% rise in overdose deaths within this group.
“This study underscores a critical need to curb overdose deaths among American Medicaid recipients,” commented Tami L. Mark, Ph.D., MBA, Distinguished Fellow and Director of Behavioral Health Financing and Quality Measurement at RTI. “There is an urgent need for further exploration into the specific challenges faced by this group and to develop successful prevention strategies.”
Using Medicaid enrollment records linked with data from the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Death Index (NDI), Dr. Mark, alongside co-author Benjamin Huber, evaluated overdose fatalities among those on Medicaid compared with the entire US population, categorizing by both age and gender.
“The ability to conduct this study was due to the rare collaboration of linked data between CMS and the CDC’s National Death Index,” Dr. Mark explained. “It is vital that researchers and policy officials have continuous access to such linked datasets to pinpoint the highest-risk groups and to gauge the impact of policy measures aimed at reducing drug-related deaths.”
This trailblazing study, financially supported internally by RTI, marks the first dedicated analysis of overdose mortality within the Medicaid demographic.
RTI International remains committed as an autonomous, non-profit research body focused on enhancing human conditions globally. Their mission emphasizes tackling pressing global issues through scientifically informed solutions, striving for a brighter future.