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Medicaid Cuts and Addiction Services

By July 3, 2025July 25th, 2025No Comments

Thank you to Patrik Jonsson for including MATTERS’ Chief Medical Officer in this discussion on Medicaid cuts and the impact they may have on the opioid overdose epidemic.

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As national conversations about Medicaid budget cuts continue, public health leaders are raising concerns about the impact these changes could have on individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). With overdose rates still alarmingly high in many communities, experts caution that reducing funding for treatment and harm reduction services could further strain an already overwhelmed healthcare system.

Dr. Joshua Lynch, emergency physician and founder of MATTERS, recently weighed in on the critical role Medicaid plays in supporting patients with SUD. He explained that while emergency medical services and hospital-based care remain vital to overdose response, they are some of the most costly points of intervention. “If someone overdoses and the system responds with an ambulance and emergency care, that’s a big expense,” he noted. “Connecting them to treatment earlier is both more effective and more affordable.”

In the article, Dr. Lynch also points to the uneven acceptance of harm reduction practices across the country, noting, “We have this continuum in the U.S. where harm reduction is really respected and in other places it’s not. You can get people on a recovery pathway. Or you can say, ‘Too bad. You get nothing.’” Offering overdose prevention tools like naloxone, drug checking strips, and sterile syringes alongside connections to treatment and telemedicine can help meet people with SUD where they are and meaningfully engage them in services.

Investing in addiction services leads to better outcomes and lower costs over time.  MATTERS aims to improve access to treatment, harm reduction supplies, and telemedicine evaluations; this not only reduces reliance on emergency care but also increases the likelihood that individuals will engage in ongoing treatment and recovery. The MATTERS mission is rooted in building a system that meets people where they are, offering timely, compassionate care that prevents crisis and promotes long-term health.

As policymakers weigh the future of Medicaid, it is more important than ever to prioritize prevention, community-based care, and the evidence-based services that save lives every day. Learn more about this ongoing discussion here.

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