This study represents findings from a descriptive analysis of a linked mother-child Medicaid claims dataset to examine the characteristics of pregnant women who use medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) or intensive behavioral health treatment; additional analysis describes the mental health and neurodevelopment outcomes of their children at one year and three years. Data from the IBM® MarketScan® Multi-State Medicaid Database from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2019, was used to conduct the analysis. While the majority of pregnant women in this analysis access OUD treatment during pregnancy (69%), only 45% of them used MOUD prenatally, and 31% received did not receive either treatment. Children of mothers who accessed BH treatment of MOUD during pregnancy had better perinatal outcomes and better mental and neurodevelopmental outcomes in early childhood. Timely identification and diagnosis allow children with in-utero opioid exposure to access early interventions services in order to improve their cognitive and developmental outcomes early on. Numerous federal efforts have been focused on improving access to OUD treatment among people of childbearing age in the pregnant and postpartum period.
This brief was compiled and summarized by the HHS/ASPE Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP). Additional research in this area is available at the ASPE Behavioral Health page, ASPE Children/Youth/Families page, and ASPE Prescription Drugs & Other Medical Products page.
*This content is in the process of Section 508 review. If you need immediate assistance accessing this content, please submit a request to Brenda Veazey, brenda.veazey@hhs.gov. Content will be updated pending the outcome of the Section 508 review.
Available Reports:
Related Products:
- Variation Across States in Loss of Medicaid Coverage Among Pregnant Beneficiaries with Substance Use Disorders Issue Brief (2023)
- Integrating SUD and OB/GYN Care: Policy Challenges and Opportunities Final Report (2022)
- Integrating OB/GYN and SUD Care Policy Challenges and Opportunities Issue Brief (2022)
- Status Report on Protecting Our Infants Act Implementation Plan: 2019 (2021)
- Status Report on Protecting Our Infants Act Implementation Plan (2019)