Inclusion of Sublocade as Preferred Agent for Idaho Medicaid

As an MAT provider, not having Sublocade available has hurt my patients. There are two that would have benefitted but due to lack of access ended up relapsing.

Additionally, Sublocade is a necessary medication to reduce the dangers and issues caused by NPF and Fentapills that are flooding Idaho.

The NYT today reported 2021 seet a record nationally for overdose death from opioids: 108,000. Subl;ocade is by far the most rational and effective treatment for opioid use disorder. The fact that it is not available to our Medicaid patients is catastrophic. Suboxone is helpful, Sublocade is a game changer. No diversion, tight supervision. Immediate recognition of noncompliance with follow-up. If we are serious about establishing long-term sobriety in this population, the P&T committee will approve the availability of this drug.

This would help so many people

Dead addicts can not get clean! Someone that I knew, died this week from a fentanyl overdose. Scott Watkins MSN, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP

I support this request for the inclusion of Sublocade as a preferred agent on the Medicaid formulary. As others have noted, the majority of those treated with MAT in Idaho are covered by Medicaid. As a psychiatric provider in a forensic setting, I see many individuals come into custody who are treated with oral MAT agents in the community. These oral agents are usually not continued and that puts the individual at greater risk of relapse when they are released, often in less than 30 days from their arrest.

I would love to bring this to my medicaid patients. There is no risk for diversion with sublocade and it allows for increased safety with patients. It is most definitely a life saving medication. Certain safe and sober housing options don't allow patients to be on PO bupe b/c they don't want a controlled substance kept in house. This wouldn't be an issue with sublocade. Also, this would be advantageous for both drug court and mental health court participants.

This will save lives by preventing overdose

This is a life-saving medication and the time release nature of it will help to take a huge quantity of pills off the street, markedly decreasing diversion. Thanks!

Thank you for doing this.

This drug is so different that Suboxone and will have a limited population. Compliance is 100% better with this drug. Please, please, please consider it. Thank you.

Most of my patients on Sublocade injectable are able to discontinue MAT and continue with only therapy within several months, much easier than with Suboxone films/tablets. Unfortunately, that is only for my private insurance patients. I am hopeful that my MAT patients with Medicaid will have the same benefit. Thank you for considering approval of this petition. Brian Brimhall, PMHNP

The MAT patient population is largely Medicaid patients, around 80%. They are being underserved by not having all options available to them.