Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder and their Infants in Three State Medicaid Programs in 2013–2016

This study analyzed linked maternal and infant Medicaid claims data and infant birth records in three states in the year before and after birth occurring 2014 to 2015. It finds pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) had delayed and lower rates of prenatal care compared to women with other substance use disorders (SUDs). Infants of mothers with OUD did not differ from infants of mothers with other SUDs in rate of preterm or low birth weight, but had higher NICU admission rates and longer birth hospitalizations. Health care costs for women with an OUD were higher than those with other SUDs.