@article {635803,
	title = {How Is Telemedicine Being Used In Opioid And Other Substance Use Disorder Treatment?},
	journal = {Health Affairs },
	volume = {37},
	number = {12},
	year = {2018},
	pages = {1940-1947},
	abstract = {Only a small proportion of people with a\&nbsp;substance\&nbsp;use\&nbsp;disorder\&nbsp;(SUD) receive\&nbsp;treatment. The shortage of SUD\&nbsp;treatment\&nbsp;providers, particularly in rural areas, is an important driver of this\&nbsp;treatment\&nbsp;gap.\&nbsp;Telemedicine\&nbsp;could be a means of expanding access to\&nbsp;treatment. However, several key regulatory and reimbursement barriers to greater use of\&nbsp;telemedicine\&nbsp;for SUD (tele-SUD) exist, and both Congress and the states are considering or have recently passed legislation to address them. To inform these efforts, we describe how tele-SUD is being used. Using claims data for 2010-17 from a large commercial insurer, we identified characteristics of tele-SUD users and examined how tele-SUD is being used in conjunction with in-person SUD care. Despite a rapid increase in tele-SUD over the study period, we found low use rates overall, particularly relative to the growth in telemental health. Tele-SUD is primarily used to complement in-person care and is disproportionately used by those with relatively severe SUD. Given the severity of the\&nbsp;opioid\&nbsp;epidemic, low rates of tele-SUD use represent a missed opportunity. As tele-SUD becomes more available, it will be important to monitor closely which tele-SUD delivery models are being used and their impact on access and outcomes.},
	author = {Huskamp HA and Busch AB and Souza J and Uscher-Pines L and Rose S and Wilcock A and Landon BE and Mehrotra A}
}
