Researchers at University of Chicago Target Opioids (Association of Continuous Medicaid Eligibility With Postpartum Coverage and Opioid Use Disorder Treatment): Opioids

2026 JUN 16 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at CDC & FDA Daily -- New research on Opioids is the subject of a report. According to news reporting originating in Chicago, Illinois, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Over three quarters of pregnant people with opioid use disorder are enrolled in Medicaid at delivery, but pregnancy-related Medicaid eligibility has historically ended 60 days postpartum, leading to periods without insurance and decreased access to health care during the first year postpartum. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, passed in March 2020, prevented states from disenrolling Medicaid enrollees, including postpartum enrollees, during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the University of Chicago, “A difference-in-difference model was used to compare the continuity of coverage among postpartum persons with opioid use disorder in Medicaid versus commercial insurance before and after the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. A segmented regression model was used to assess medication for opioid use disorder retention (at 6 and 12 months) among those with Medicaid at delivery before (2016-2019) versus after Families First Coronavirus Response Act (2020-2022). Among deliveries from 2016 to 2022, 1,435 (10.2%) were enrolled in commercial insurance, and 12,567 (89.8%) were in Medicaid. In the pre-Families First Coronavirus Response Act period, 60.0% of commercially insured and 63.5% of Medicaid-insured deliveries remained enrolled through 12-months postpartum. In adjusted analyses, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was associated with a 23.2 percentage-point (95% CI=17.6%, 28.8%) increase in 12-month continuous Medicaid coverage compared with that among commercially insured individuals. Among Medicaid enrollees, medication for opioid use disorder retention increased by 14.4 (95% CI=8.2, 20.6) and 16.3 (95% CI=10.1, 22.5) percentage points (level change) in 6- and 12-month medication for opioid use disorder retention, respectively, after the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. In this observational study, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was associated with increased health insurance stability and improved medication for opioid use disorder retention among postpartum Medicaid beneficiaries with opioid use disorder.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “These findings suggest that postpartum Medicaid extensions, implemented in 49 states and Washington, DC, could help increase insurance coverage stability and medication for opioid use disorder use for this high-risk population.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Association of Continuous Medicaid Eligibility With Postpartum Coverage and Opioid Use Disorder Treatment. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2026:108392. American Journal of Preventive Medicine can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc, Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169, USA. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; American Journal of Preventive Medicine - http://www.journals.elsevier.com/american-journal-of-preventive-medicine/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Breanne E. Biondi, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Additional authors for this research include Paul R. Shafer, Rachel L. Epstein, Michael D. Stein, Jamie R. Daw and Sarah H. Gordon.

The publisher of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Inc, Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, NY 10169, USA.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)