CMS releases the Federal Meta-Evaluation Design for Section 1115 Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Demonstrations

https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/downloads/fed-meta-evaluation-design-rpt-feb-2020.pdf

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an evaluation design that explains how the Agency will conduct a meta-analysis on Medicaid section 1115 Substance Use Disorder (SUD) demonstrations, which will be complete in the spring of 2023. The design is posted on Medicaid.gov. Section 1115 SUD demonstrations require states to increase access to SUD treatment services; increase capacity to provide those services; and implement widely recognized patient placement criteria and provider standards, care coordination policies, and other prevention and treatment strategies.

The meta-evaluation will compare experiences among similar section 1115 SUD demonstrations across states to understand the overall effectiveness of these demonstrations and how variations in state demonstration features, and the context in which they are implemented, contribute to differences in effectiveness.

This evaluation design is intended to inform states on the framework and structure for how CMS will complete the meta-evaluation of approved SUD section 1115 demonstrations.

• Federal Meta-Evaluation Design for Section 1115 Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Demonstrations