“Breaking Bad” Barriers: An Opioid Use Disorder Transitions Program©

In New Mexico, hospitalizations for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) have increased, even above the rising national average for these patients. Across the nation, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) do not routinely admit patients on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), like buprenorphine or methadone, due to misperceptions and prejudices including a younger age, inappropriate visitors, seeking for narcotics, social service needs that cannot be met, and reimbursement issues. These misperceptions prevent delivering skilled care for the appropriate needs of these patients, and prevent the initiation of medications in the hospital for patients with OUD.