To examine findings from the first available summative evaluations for SUD IMD waivers.
Approach:
SUD IMD Waivers Overview: SUD IMD waivers allow states to receive federal Medicaid funds for short-term stays in IMDs, aiming to improve SUD identification and access to care.
Key Findings:
As of April 2026, 38 states and D.C. had approved SUD IMD waivers, with most initial waivers approved between 2016 and 2020.
Early evaluations indicate improved access to SUD treatment, although isolating waiver effects is complicated by various factors.
Interpretation:
Summative evaluations suggest increases in SUD residential and inpatient care, along with growth in community-based care and access to medications for opioid use disorder.
Limitations:
Evaluation periods overlapped with major disruptions in SUD treatment and Medicaid policy, complicating the isolation of waiver effects.
Conclusion:
The evaluations highlight challenges in the implementation of SUD IMD waivers.
The judgment stemmed from controlled-substance prescriptions issued after William C. Gardner, DDS, no longer held the state licensure required for federal prescribing authority.
