Medicaid Outcomes Distributed Research Network. Follow-up after ED visits for opioid use disorder: Do they reduce future overdoses?

Follow-up visits within 7 days of an emergency department (ED) visit related to opioid use disorder (OUD) is a key measure of treatment quality, but we know little about its protective effect on future opioid-related overdoses. The objective this paper by HIP Investigator Dr. Marguerite Burns was to examine the rate of 7-day follow-up after an OUD-related ED visit and the association with future overdoses.

The study found that among Medicaid enrollees with OUD, having a follow-up visit 7 days after an ED visit is protective against fatal or nonfatal overdose within 6 months, although the association varies considerably across states. Although the association with future overdoses was relatively modest, both practitioners and policymakers should seek to increase the number of Medicaid enrollees with OUD who receive follow-up care within 7 days after an ED visit.