To assess the implementation cost, incremental net cost, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the START intervention for opioid use disorder (OUD) compared to usual care.
Key Findings:
START significantly increased the initiation of FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) during hospitalization, with a reported increase of X%.
The intervention improved linkage to OUD-focused follow-up care post-discharge, achieving a Y% linkage rate.
Cost-effectiveness analysis indicated a favorable ICER for START compared to usual care, suggesting a cost-saving potential.
Interpretation:
The START intervention demonstrates potential for improving treatment initiation and follow-up for OUD in hospitalized patients, suggesting a cost-effective model for addressing the opioid crisis, which could inform policy changes.
Limitations:
The analysis is based on a short follow-up period of 12 months, which may not capture long-term outcomes.
Generalizability may be limited to the specific hospital settings involved in the trial, potentially affecting broader applicability.
Conclusion:
The START program is a promising and cost-effective strategy for enhancing the treatment of opioid use disorder in hospital settings, highlighting its potential role in combating the opioid crisis.
