On Oct. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an informal notice to states discussing the statutory requirement in the SUPPORT Act for states to cover MAT services and drugs. In the notice, CMS interprets the SUPPORT Act “to require that, as of Oct. 1, 2020, states must include as part of the new MAT mandatory benefit all forms of drugs and biologicals that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved or licensed for MAT to treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). “CMS also notes that the continuing resolution signed into law this week clarifies that “MAT drugs when used for OUD as described under the mandatory benefit are deemed prescribed drugs, and covered outpatient drugs” and thus eligible for rebates under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. Lastly, CMS intends to issue additional guidance to states on other implementation issues around the mandatory MAT benefit.
