Alcohol Research Group

  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • Research
    • Overview
    • Publications
    • Disparities
    • Environment
    • Epidemiology
    • Health
    • International
    • Intervention Trials
    • Methodology
    • Policy
    • Treatment & Recovery
  • Alcohol Disparities Research Center
    • About
    • People
      • Center Leadership
      • Scientific Advisory Board
      • Research Partnerships
    • Research
      • Cores
      • Research Projects
      • National Alcohol Surveys
      • Affiliated Research
    • Impacts
    • Training Program
  • Our Impacts
    • Publications
    • Press Releases
    • ARG in the News
  • Training
    • NIAAA Training Program
    • Faculty & Mentors
    • Predoctoral Fellowship
    • Postdoctoral Fellowship
    • Seminars
    • Current Fellows
  • About Us
    • History
    • Mission, Vision, Values & Goals
    • Governance
    • Staff
    • Library
    • Support ARG
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Health Guides
    • Datasets
    • Press Releases
    • ARG in the News

Effects of Medicaid expansion on alcohol and opioid treatment admissions in racial and ethnic groups

January 10, 2023 by

Recognizing that excessive drinking is a leading cause of preventable death in the US and that US opioid mortality rates have risen dramatically in recent decades, the US Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion sought to increase Americans’ health insurance coverage and access to substance use treatment services. Whether or not these landmark policies benefitted diverse population subgroups is an important public health question.  A study, led by Senior Scientist Nina Mulia, examined the impact of Medicaid expansion on alcohol and opioid treatment admission rates in the overall adult population, and across racial and ethnic groups, including Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and White Americans.

The study highlights the impact that Medicaid expansion has had in increasing  access to substance use treatment for many low-income and racial and ethnic minority groups. Our research showed that expansion led to  increased, Medicaid-insured alcohol and opioid treatment rates in the general population, and particularly among Black and Hispanic/Latinx groups.

While the increased rates of treatment entry are promising, the study’s findings also suggest that there are significant disparities emerging between low-income individuals living in expansion and non-expansion states. The majority of states which have not expanded Medicaid eligibility are located in the southern region of the U.S.. These gaps in coverage are also notable because Black Americans disproportionately live in the US south compared to other parts of the U.S., which has implications for furthering inequities in access to treatment and other crucial health care among these communities.

Alcohol and opioid treatment entry rates were decreasing or flat during the period examined by our study from 2010 through 2016.  Our finding that Medicaid expansion was associated with rising Medicaid-insured treatment admission rates after the policy went into effect is all the more notable.

Funding for the study was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at the National Institutes of Health under the award P50AA005595 (PI: Kerr; Project Lead: Mulia).

Mulia, N., Lui, C.K., Bensley, K.M.K, Subbaraman, M.S. (2022). Effects of Medicaid expansion on alcohol and opioid treatment admissions in U.S. racial/ethnic groups, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 231. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109242

Latest News

January 25th, 2023
COVID-19 study finds striking inequities in access to health care during the pandemic
January 10th, 2023
Effects of Medicaid expansion on alcohol and opioid treatment admissions in racial and ethnic groups
December 15th, 2022
Project Update: Smoke-free Policy Adoption at Community Colleges
November 9th, 2022
Recovery Housing Project Produces & Makes Available U.S. State-Level Reports
September 8th, 2022
Study reveals inequities in alcohol screenings, resulting in missed opportunities for treatment

Recent Findings

January 25th, 2023
COVID-19 study finds striking inequities in access to health care during the pandemic
January 10th, 2023
Effects of Medicaid expansion on alcohol and opioid treatment admissions in racial and ethnic groups
September 8th, 2022
Study reveals inequities in alcohol screenings, resulting in missed opportunities for treatment
June 26th, 2022
New COVID-19 Study Finds More Drinking, but Fewer Drinkers
March 23rd, 2022
For Black Americans, Low Socioeconomic Position and Adverse School Experiences Earlier in Life Linked to Heavy Drinking in Adulthood

Newsletter Sign-up

Public Health Institute
  • © 2023   Alcohol Research Group
  • Public Health Institute
  • 6001 Shellmound St,, Suite 450
    Emeryville CA 94608
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
  • About Us
  • National Alcohol Research Center
  • Training
  • Resources & Tools

Stay Connected

NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

© 2023 Alcohol Research Group - Responsive WordPress Website by HyperArts