Addiction Medicine Experts Call on Congress to Expand Access to Lifesaving Addiction Care

Strategic Insights -

Physicians and healthcare professionals are pushing for legislation to modernize methadone treatment for opioid use disorder and cover residential addiction treatment under Medicare. This effort aims to address the addiction and overdose crisis, save lives, and help Americans with addiction achieve recovery. The American Society of Addiction Medicine, in coordination with the American College of Medical Toxicology and the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine, hosted the Addiction Medicine Advocacy Conference to advocate for policies that help Americans with addiction access evidence-based treatment.

Key Takeaways:

  • Approximately 80% of U.S. counties do not have federally regulated opioid treatment programs, limiting access to methadone treatment.
  • Medicare does not cover residential addiction treatment, creating a cost barrier for seniors with addiction who may benefit from a 24-hour care regimen.
  • The Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act (MOTAA) would allow board-certified addiction specialist physicians to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder treatment that can be picked up by a patient at community pharmacies.
  • The Residential Recovery for Seniors Act would create a Medicare Part A benefit for residential addiction treatment programs and establish a prospective payment system.
  • In 2024, 48.4 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year, but only 5.9 million people (12%) received treatment.

Statistics:

  • 80% of U.S. counties do not have federally regulated opioid treatment programs.
  • 48.4 million people aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder in 2024.
  • 5.9 million people (12%) with a substance use disorder received treatment in 2024.
  • The Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act (MOTAA) would allow board-certified addiction specialist physicians to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder treatment.

Sources:

  • American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) news release on September 16, 2025.
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) data on substance use disorders in 2024.
  • American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) press release on the Addiction Medicine Advocacy Conference.