The number of Maryland residents receiving substance abuse treatment through Medicaid more than doubled in less than three years, according to a new report by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. This fiscal year, 38,697 residents are expected to receive alcohol and drug abuse treatment through Medicaid, a 115 percent jump from fiscal 2009, when 17,995 residents did. This year’s projections also represent a 10.4 percent increase from last year’s 35,043 residents who received treatment.
The increase resulted from state legislation passed in 2009 allowing residents to use Medicaid to pay for outpatient treatments by transferring money from the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration’s state-funded grant program, according to the study.
| Treating substance abusers | ||||
| County | Outpatient treatment users, fiscal 2009 | Outpatient treatment users, fiscal 2012* | ||
| Anne Arundel County | 1,159 | 3,119 | ||
| Baltimore City | 8,598 | 16,269 | ||
| Baltimore County | 2,340 | 5,535 | ||
| Frederick County | 406 | 974 | ||
| Howard County | 177 | 492 | ||
| Montgomery County | 523 | 1,047 | ||
| Prince George’s County | 202 | 595 | ||
| *Projected | ||||
| Source: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene | ||||
Effective January 2010, the Health Department also increased reimbursement rates to Medicaid providers and enhanced other aspects of the program –like allowing patients to forgo referrals — that helped cause the boost.
“These [legislative changes] provide an opportunity for many Marylanders suffering from addiction to regain control over their lives,” said Maryland Health Secretary Joshua Sharfstein.
As a result of the changes, Medicaid and the ADAA are expected to pay for $142.8 million in substance abuse treatment in fiscal 2012 — not including pharmaceutical costs — for an increase of $26 million over three years.
Although spending on substance abuse treatments increased across the state in the last three years, Baltimore City saw the largest increase, with residents receiving an additional $14 million in Medicaid and ADAA funding for the treatments. Baltimore County followed closely behind, receiving an additional $5 million.
Baltimore City and County residents also routinely spend the highest amount on substance abuse treatment of all Maryland jurisdictions. In fiscal 2009, they spent $53.6 million and $8.8 million, respectively, and this fiscal year they are expected to spend $67.6 million and $13.7 million, respectively.
By comparison, Montgomery County residents are expected to spend $4 million this fiscal year, while Prince George’s County residents are expected to spend $7.7 million.
