DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail 
Stop S2-26-12 Baltimore, Maryland  
21244-1850 
CMCS Informational Bulletin 
DATE:  September 4, 2020 
FROM:  Anne Marie Costello, Acting Deputy Administrator and Center Director 
SUBJECT:  Guidance to Improve Care for Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and 
Their Families 
Section 1005(a) of the Substance UseDisorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and 
Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (P.L. 115-271) or the SUPPORT for Patients and 
Communities Act requires that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issue 
guidance that discusses developments in the care of infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome 
(NAS) and their families, with the goal of improving such care.  Specifically, it requires the HHS 
Secretary to issue guidance to states regarding opportunities to improve care for infants with 
NAS and their families.  The provision requires that the guidance include: 
1. States best practices regarding innovative or evidence-based payment models focusing
on prevention, screening, treatment, plans of safe care, and post discharge services for
parents with substance use disorders (SUD) and infants with NAS;
2. Recommendations for states on financing opportunities through Medicaid and the
Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for parents with SUD, infants with NAS,
and home-visiting services;
3. Guidance and technical assistance to state Medicaid agencies on additional flexibilities
and incentives for screening, prevention, and post discharge services (including parenting
supports), and infant-caregiver bonding (including breastfeeding when appropriate); and
4. Guidance for suggested terminology and ICD codes to identify infants with NAS and
neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which could include opioid-exposure, opioid
withdrawal not requiring pharmacotherapy, and opioid withdrawal requiring
pharmacotherapy.
I. Background
SUD affect the lives of millions of Americans.  That impact is felt not only by the individuals 
living with SUD, but also by their families and their children.1  For their infants and children, 
that impact may not only be felt through life experiences and challenges associated with having a 
parent with a SUD, but also through the physical complications resulting from exposure to 
1 In this document, the term Substance Use Disorder (SUD) includes opioid use disorders (OUD).  The substance 
classes that may be associated with a diagnosis of substance use disorder include alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogens, 
inhalants, opioids, sedatives, hypnotics or anxiolytics, stimulants, tobacco, and other or unknown substances.  
American Psychiatric Association:  Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Arlington, 
VA, American Psychiatric Association, 2013 at pg 482-483 
1  opioids or other substances before birth.  
 
As the incidence of opioid use grows in this country, the incidence of NAS grows concurrently. 
According to a publication in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity 
and Mortality Weekly, the national prevalence of opioid use disorder per 1,000 delivery 
hospitalizations increased from 1.5 cases in 1999 to 6.5 cases in 2014, an increase of 333%.2  
Over the past decade, the United States has experienced significant increases in rates of opioid-
related emergency department visits and hospitalizations,3 NAS, and pregnant women with 
opioid use disorder.4 
 
Within state Medicaid programs, the increase is even higher.  In 2017, nearly two million non-
elderly adults in the United States had an opioid use disorder (OUD), and of these adults, nearly 
four in ten were covered by Medicaid.5  The rate of U.S. infants diagnosed with opioid 
withdrawal symptoms rose from 2.8 to 14.4 per 1,000 hospital births from 2004 to 2014.6  More 
than 80 percent of infants treated for NAS have their care paid for by Medicaid.7 
 
In response to these growing needs, stakeholders are striving to identify innovative and evidence 
based treatments and payment models that focus on prevention, screening, treatment, plans of 
safe care, and post discharge services that can improve care and clinical outcomes for mothers 
and fathers with substance use disorders, as well as for babies with NAS.  
 
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) 
 
NAS is a constellation of symptoms in newborn infants exposed to any of a variety of substances 
in utero, including opioids.8  Clinically significant neonatal withdrawal most commonly results 
from exposure to opioids, but symptoms of neonatal withdrawal have also been noted in infants 
                                                      
2 Haight SC, Ko JY, Tong VT, Bohm MK, Callaghan WM. Opioid Use Disorder Documented at Delivery 
Hospitalization  United States, 19992014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:845849. DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6731a1 
3 HHS. (2018) Testimony from Brett P. Giroir & Kimberly Brandt on Tracking Opioid and Substance Use Disorders 
in Medicare Medicaid, and Human Services Programs before Committee on Finance. Retrieved March 19, 2019 
from https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asl/testimony/2018-04/tracking-opioid-and-substance-use-disorders-
medicare-medicaid-hhs-programs.html 
4 CDC. (2018) Haight SC, Ko JY, Tong VT, Bohm MK, Callaghan WM. Opioid Use Disorder Documented at 
Delivery Hospitalization  United States, 19992014. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: 67:845
849. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6731a1 
5 Orgera, K. and Tolbert, J. The Opioid Epidemic and Medicaids Role in Facilitating Access to Treatment. Kennedy 
Family Foundation Issue Brief, Published: May 24, 2019 https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/the-opioid-
epidemic-and-medicaids-role-in-facilitating-access-to-treatment/ 
6 Vanderbilt University Medical Center Reporter. Study Tracks Impact of NAS on State Medicaid Programs (2018, 
March 23) http://news.vumc.org/2018/03/23/study-tracks-impact-of-nas-on-state-medicaid-programs%E2%80%88/ 
7 Patrick SW, Schumacher RE, Benneyworth BD, Krans EE, McAllister JM, Davis MM, Neonatal Abstinence 
Syndrome and Associated Health Care Expenditures: United States, 2000-2009, JAMA, 2012, 307(18):1934-40. 
doi: 10.1001/jama.2012.3951 and also Patrick SW, Davis, MM, Lehman CU, Cooper WP Increasing Incidence and 
Geographic Distribution of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: United States 2009-2012   
8 Some experts use the term, Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) when referring to withdrawal 
specifically from opioids. Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Sutter MB, Leeman L, Hsi A Obstet Gynecol Clin 
North Am. 2014 Jun;41(2):317-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2014.02.010 
2  exposed to antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other non-opioids.  NAS is not characterized as an 
addiction or substance use disorder; rather it is a medical condition resulting in a physiologic 
response to the infants exposure to cessation of the opioid or other substance the mother was 
using.  Experts consider NAS to be an expected and treatable result of womens prenatal opioid 
or other substance use, although long-term ramifications for the infants are still unknown.9  
 
NAS is a complex condition and symptoms vary from infant to infant, based on a number of 
factors, including but not limited to the longevity and history of substance use by the mother and 
the quantity and type of opioid and/or other substances used.  The clinical indications of NAS 
include high pitched and excessive crying, irritability, poor sleep, sweating, poor feeding, 
respiratory distress, seizures, tremors and other signs.  Symptoms of NAS usually develop within 
72 hours of birth, but may develop anytime in the first week of life, including after hospital 
discharge. 
 
Conceptually, every infant with in utero opioid and/or other substance exposure falls along the 
continuum of withdrawal symptoms, ranging from mild and at times clinically insignificant or 
subtle signs, to much more severe signs.  The diagnosis of NAS is made by observing these 
clinical signs of neonatal withdrawal that the newborn exhibits in the days to weeks after birth.  
Current medical recommendations highlight attempts to initially treat these infants with non-
pharmacologic approaches, including placing the infant in a dark and quiet environment, 
swaddling, rocking, breastfeeding, rooming in, and providing high-calorie nutrition in frequent 
small feedings, among other techniques, before resorting to pharmacologic treatment, such as the 
use of liquid methadone, buprenorphine, or morphine.10   
 
Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorder 
 
Substance use, including opioid use during pregnancy, has increased dramatically in recent 
years.11  Opioid use has been associated with increased odds of threatened preterm labor, early 
onset delivery, poor fetal growth, and stillbirth, and women who used opioids during pregnancy 
were four times as likely to have a prolonged hospital stay and were almost four times more 
likely to die before discharge.12  Women are particularly vulnerable in the first year 
postpartum.13  Medication assisted treatment (MAT)14 is an effective form of treatment for OUD 
during pregnancy, but lack of access to treatment among pregnant women with OUD is a 
                                                      
9 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib060818.pdf  
10 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib060818.pdf  
11 Opioid Crisis in Medicaid: Saving Mothers and Babies, Health Affairs Blog, May 1, 2018. 
12 Whiteman, VE, Salemi, JL, Mogos, M F, et al, Maternal Opioid Drug Use during Pregnancy and Its Impact on 
Perinatal Morbidity, Mortality, and the Costs of Medical Care in the United States. Journal of Pregnancy, 2014, 
906723. http://doi.org/10.1155/2014/906723 
13 Opioid overdose events are lowest in the third trimester but increase in the year after delivery, with 712 months 
postpartum a particularly vulnerable time for women with OUD.  Schiff DM, Nielsen T, Terplan M, et al. Fatal and 
nonfatal overdose among pregnant and postpartum women in Massachusetts. Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 132(2): 466
474 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6060005/ 
14 Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including opioid treatment programs (OTPs), combines counseling and 
behavioral therapy and medications to treat substance use disorders.  For more information, see:  
https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment 
3  widespread issue.15  Additionally, since some forms of the medications used in MAT are opioids, 
it is important to note that, although MAT is the treatment of choice for most pregnant women, 
an infant born to a woman who is being stably treated with MAT may also experience NAS.  
 
Studies show a higher risk of opioid use during pregnancy among Medicaid beneficiaries, and 
total hospital costs for NAS births covered by Medicaid increased from $65.4 million in 2004 to 
$462 million in 2014.16  Relatedly, parental drug use is the second-most-common reason for 
foster care entry for all children.17   
 
Treatment for SUD is mostly provided by specialty facilities that typically offer some 
combination of SUD services such as detoxification, pharmacotherapy, individual and/or group 
psychotherapy, and other psychosocial services in one or more settings (i.e., inpatient, 
residential, or outpatient).18  However, according to one recent study, 40 percent of U.S. counties 
do not have an addiction treatment facility that provides outpatient care and accepts Medicaid.  
This lack of treatment capacity is most prevalent in rural counties in southern and mid-western 
states and in areas with a higher proportion of racial and ethnic minorities.19 
 
The number of women of childbearing age, defined as ages 1544, who reported past-month 
heroin use increased to 109,000 in 20132014, an increase of 31 percent from 20112012.20  The 
number of women ages 1544 who reported past-month misuse of prescription pain relievers 
such as oxycodone increased to 98,000 in the same period, an increase of 5.3 percent.21  
Estimates are that, each year between 2008 and 2012, one-third of reproductive-age women 
enrolled in Medicaid and more than one-quarter of those with private insurance filled a 
prescription for an opioid pain medication.22  The prevalence of OUD during pregnancy more 
                                                      
15 Smith K, Lipari R, Women of Childbearing Age and Opioids, SAMHSA: The CBHSQ Report, Jan. 17, 2017 
16 Winkelman TNA., Villapiano N, Kozhimannil KB, et al. Incidence and Costs of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome 
Among Infants With Medicaid: 20042014. Pediatrics. 2018; 141(4):e20173520, 
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/141/4/e20173520..info  
17 The AFCARS Report, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families, Childrens Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, 
PreliminaryFY12017EstimatesasofAugust 10,2018-No.25  
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/afcarsreport25.pdf 
18 Cummings JR, Wen H, Ko M , et al, Race/Ethnicity and Geographic Access to Medicaid Substance Use Disorder 
Treatment Facilities in the United States, JAMA Psychiatry, 71(2): 190-196 (Feb 2014) 
19 Cummings JR, Wen H, Ko M, et al, Race/Ethnicity and Geographic Access to Medicaid Substance Use Disorder 
Treatment Facilities in the United States, JAMA Psychiatry, 71(2): 190-196 (Feb 2014) 
20 Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality CBHSQ, 2015, Table 6.71A 
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-
2015.pdf 
21 CBHSQ, 2015, Table 6.71A 
22 Ailes, E; Dawson, A; Lind, J; Gilboa, S; Frey, M; Broussard, C; Honein, M; Opioid Prescription Claims Among 
Women of Reproductive Age  United States, 20082012 January 23, 2015 / 64(02);37-41 
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6402a1.htm 
4  than doubled between 1998 and 2011 to 4 per 1,000 deliveries.2324 
 
Barriers to treatment exist, including lack of available treatment for pregnant women.  Without 
treatment, pregnant women with OUD face increased risks of preterm delivery, low infant birth 
weight, and transmitting HIV to their infants.25  Further, postpartum women have additional 
difficulty in locating appropriate SUD treatment providers with capacity or a willingness to serve 
them.  The challenges are exacerbated by the importance and desire of mothers to remain with 
their infants for treatment of the infants NAS and the difficulty of finding options for treatment 
that can meet both the infants and the mothers needs.26  
 
An underlying principle in the literature is that a healthy pregnancy results in a healthy infant and 
mother.  For example, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) 
Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder and 
Their Infants recognizes the mother and infant as a dyad, and the recommendations are provided 
in light of what actions will optimize the outcomes for the motherinfant dyad as a whole, with 
guidance provided from preconception to several months postpartum and for the first few years 
of infant development.27  
 
In light of these trends, as well pursuant to the direction provided in section 1005(a) of the 
SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, this guidance provides updated information and 
guidance for states as they strive to improve care and evaluate best practices for treating these 
infants, as well as their mothers, fathers and caregivers.  
 
II.  Innovative Payment Models:  Infants with NAS and Parents with SUD 
 
The development of innovative payment models for NAS services is still in its infancy and it 
would be premature to report any models as best practices regarding innovative or evidence-
based payment models focusing on prevention, screening, treatment, plans of safe care, and post 
discharge services for parents with SUD and infants with NAS.  Acknowledging this, the Centers 
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would like to highlight that states have flexibility to 
develop innovative payment models and set payment rates for services provided within the 
Medicaid program to promote efficiency, access and quality of care for NAS services.  Medicaid 
authorities, such as state plan authority under section 1902 of the Act, managed care authorities 
                                                      
23 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and 
Parenting Women With Opioid Use Disorder and Their Infants. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 18-5054. Rockville, 
MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018, citing  Maeda A, Bateman BT, Clancy 
CR, Creanga AA, Leffert LR.  Opioid abuse and dependence during pregnancy: temporal trends and obstetrical 
outcomes.  Anesthesiology. 2014 Dec; 121(6):1158-65. 
24 Newly updated figures were provided in January 2020 for the years of 2015  2018, for a slightly different age 
group of pregnant women aged 12-44.  
https://www.macpac.gov/publication/access-to-treatment-for-pregnant-women-with-a-substance-use-disorder-and-
infants-with-neonatal-abstinence-syndrome/ 
25 SAMHSA Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women, id, at pg 2-3 
26 Saia, K; Schiff, D; Wachman, E; et al. Caring for Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder in the USA:  
Expanding and Improving Treatment, Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports, Set. 2016, Vol 5, Issue 3, pp 
257-263 
27 SAMHSA Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women with Opioid Use Disorder and Their 
Infants,, https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma18-5054.pdf  pg 4 
5  under 1915(b), primary care case management authority under section 1932(a), and section 
1115(a) demonstration authority provide states with a number of avenues to implement 
innovative payment models for NAS services.  States may also consider these types of 
innovative payment models for NAS services that are covered under the CHIP state plan or could 
be provided through a health services initiative (HSI), as discussed below in section III.B. 
 
Through partnerships with states, CMS has approved innovative fee-for-service payment 
methodologies that reward providers for improvements in care coordination, clinical care quality, 
and service cost reduction.  Medicaid statute, regulations, and policies provide states with 
flexibility to design innovative value based payment methodologies for NAS services. States 
have flexibility in setting rates and designing payment models for services provided within the 
Medicaid program to promote efficiency, access and quality of care.  A state may pay providers 
for medically necessary Medicaid services and recognize the varied costs of providing care based 
on the setting(s) in which the services are provided or the severity of need.  For instance, states 
may pay higher rates for services provided to individuals with significant care needs or in 
geographic areas where access to care may be of concern.  Further, states may pay for 
individually covered services or, if determined as a more efficient payment method, may develop 
bundled rates to pay for services.  States may also offer providers financial incentives to improve 
beneficiary outcomes based on meeting certain quality benchmarks, which may include 
treatment outcomes or recognized standards of care.28 
 
One of the innovative models states may consider for NAS services is the episode of care 
payment model.  The goal of an episode of care model is to treat and pay for a clinical condition 
or procedure during a set period of time period.  In episodes of care, the episode is a predefined 
clinical condition with preset payment amounts or target costs that are based on expected 
practitioner costs, care setting, and the procedures performed.  An entity or provider, called an 
accountable entity, manages the treatment of the clinical episode from beginning to the defined 
clinical end point and is held accountable for the clinical outcomes, quality of care and cost of 
the episode.  
 
Through a single, bundled payment or an average target cost per episode, providers bear the 
financial risk of keeping an episodes service costs under the bundled payment amount or cost 
target.  If an episode of care costs less than the bundled payment or target cost amount and the 
provider meets the required quality measure targets, the accountable entity may keep a portion of 
the difference or receive a performance payment.  However, if the costs exceed the bundled 
payment amount or target cost, the provider may be financially liable for the difference between 
the bundled payment amount and an episodes actual cost.29 
 
We encourage states to work closely with the CMS Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services 
(CMCS) when developing innovative payment models for the treatment of NAS that promote 
efficiency, access and quality of care for NAS services.  States should design NAS payment 
                                                      
28 Additional information regarding Medicaid financing options is included in subsequent sections of this 
Informational Bulletin (pg 17) 
29 States should adhere to the guidance published on the Medicaid.gov website when developing bundled payments 
for episodes of care fee-for-service payment methodologies: https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/spa-
and-1915-waiver-processing/medicaid-spa-toolkit/index.html  
6  methodologies for prevention, screening, treatment, plans of safe care, and post discharge 
services that reward providers for improved quality of care, expand access to NAS services, and 
establish efficient rates. 
 
Federal Resources: Best Practices for Infants with NAS and Pregnant Women with SUD 
 
As stated above, development of innovative payment models for NAS services is still in its 
infancy.  We recognize that states are grappling with options to address and fund the increasing 
demand for services that best match the needs and resources within their individual communities.  
In order to assist states in their deliberations, we offer a summary of guidance issued by various 
federal agencies.  These resources focus on various aspects of best practices and describe 
existing recommendations and initiatives around prevention, screening, treatment and post 
discharge services to infants with NAS, and to their parents and potential caregivers. 
 
Protecting Our Infants Act:  Report to Congress and Implementation Plan Update 
 
The Protecting our Infants Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-91) (POIA) called for HHS to study and 
develop recommendations for preventing and treating prenatal opioid use disorders and NAS.  In 
addition, HHS was directed to continue to assist states in improving the quality of data collection 
and availability of data related to NAS, and to encourage public health measures aimed at 
decreasing its prevalence. 
 
In 2017, HHS released its first follow up POIA Report to Congress.  This report includes an 
updated review of background information on NAS, summarizes HHS activities around NAS, 
and presents clinical and programmatic evidence and recommendations for prevention and 
treatment, including strategies to address identified gaps, challenges and recommendations.30  
 
In 2019, HHS released a second follow-up report updating the status of implementation of the 
recommendations of the prior POIA releases.31  In this report, HHS developed an 
implementation plan focusing on preventing prenatal opioid exposure, providing evidence-based 
treatment for both mother and infant, increasing the accessibility of family-friendly services for 
pregnant and parenting women with opioid use disorders, supporting continuing education for 
healthcare providers, and determining optimal family and developmental support services for 
children who have experienced prenatal opioid exposure.32  
 
The reports include the status of agency actions addressing recommendations in four areas:  
Systemic Changes; Clinical Changes; Data and Surveillance Changes; and Research and 
Evaluation Changes.33  The actions address HHS activities designed to promote potential 
                                                      
30 https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/topics/specific_populations/protecting-our-infants-act-report-congress-
2017.pdf  
31 This report also satisfies the requirement under section 7062 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act 
to submit to Congress and make publicly available the report regarding implementation of the recommendations in 
the POIA strategy. 
32 https://aspe.hhs.gov/report/status-report-protecting-our-infants-act-implementation-plan  
33 The categories were updated in the 2019 report as follows:  Data and Surveillance, Research and Evaluation, 
Programs and Services, Education 
7  intervention prior to conception, during pregnancy, postpartum for mothers, ongoing SUD 
treatment for mothers and fathers, treatment for infants with NAS, and implementation of 
ongoing parental treatment engagement, recovery support, and early intervention services in 
family function and mitigation of consequences of prenatal substance exposure and NAS.34 
 
Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act: Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report 
 
The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA; P.L. 114-198) is a sweeping 
law that addresses the full continuum of care from primary prevention to recovery support, 
including significant changes to expand access to addiction treatment services and overdose 
reversal medications.  Among other provisions of the CARA Act, it required the GAO to 
examine the federal action needed to address NAS in the United States.  Their 2017 report 
discusses various ways in which services are provided to infants with NAS, describes 
recommended practices and challenges for addressing NAS, and examines practices and 
strategies for addressing NAS, including treatment for women with SUD during pregnancy and 
treatment for infants diagnosed with NAS after birth.  Their report provides an analysis of issues, 
a discussion of recommended practices, challenges faced by health care providers and examines 
HHS strategy for addressing NAS.35   
 
SAMHSA: Clinical Guidance for Treating Pregnant and Parenting Women with Opioid Use 
Disorder and their Infants 
 
SAMHSA published comprehensive clinical guidance for treating both pregnant and parenting 
women with opioid disorder and their infants.36  This guidance also includes sixteen 
comprehensive Fact Sheets describing clinical scenarios and action steps for phases of treatment 
from prenatal care and infant care to maternal postnatal care.   
 
Section I of their guidance discusses prenatal care, including prenatal screenings and treatment, 
initiating, modifying, and managing pharmacotherapy for women during pregnancy, and issues 
around labor and delivery, including peripartum pain relief.   
 
Section II addresses infant care, including a discussion of screening and assessment protocols for 
infants, management of NAS, breastfeeding considerations, infant discharge planning, and early 
intervention for the infants.   
 
Section III addresses Maternal Postnatal Care, including adjusting pharmacotherapy dose 
postpartum, maternal discharge planning, and maternal return to substance use.    
 
The guidance includes forms and templates, development assessments, and a master reference 
list of citations and articles for further details.  It is designed to be helpful to a wide audience of 
clinicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. 
 
                                                      
34 https://aspe.hhs.gov/report/status-report-protecting-our-infants-act-implementation-plan 
35 Newborn Health: Federal Action Needed to Address Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome 
https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/687580.pdf  
36 https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma18-5054.pdf  
8  SAMHSA has additional fact sheets on opioid use disorder and pregnancy, which are available 
on their website.  For more information, see:  https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Opioid-Use-
Disorder-and-Pregnancy/sma18-5071fs1 
 
SAMHSA and Administration for Children and Families:  A Collaborative Approach to the 
Treatment of Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorders37  
 
This guide highlights a coordinated, multi-system approach to best serve the needs of pregnant 
women with OUD and their infants. It discusses advance planning for the treatment of pregnant 
women with OUD that addresses safe care for mothers and their newborns that can help prevent 
unexpected crises at the time of delivery. This guide provides background information on the 
treatment of pregnant women with OUD, summarizes key aspects of guidelines that have been 
adopted by professional organizations across medical, behavioral, and mental health disciplines, 
presents a comprehensive framework to organize these efforts in communities, and provides a 
collaborative practice guide for community planning to improve outcomes for these families. 
The guides Appendices provide details on implementing the recommendations in the guide as 
well as a summary of lessons from one communitys experience over the past decade. 
 
 
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Grand Rounds: Public Health Strategies to 
Prevent Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome38 
 
This article provides background, prevention and intervention strategies, and additional reference 
information for the prevention and treatment of NAS.   
 
CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain39 
 
This guide provides recommendations for the prescribing of opioid pain medication for patients 
18 and older in primary care settings. The recommendations address the use of opioid pain 
medication in certain special populations (e.g., older adults and pregnant women) and in 
populations with conditions posing special risks (e.g., a history of substance use disorder).40 
 
The CDC has also developed an interactive training series that provides online training in 
applying CDCs Guideline for Prescribing Opioids.41 
 
                                                      
37 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. A Collaborative Approach to the 
Treatment of Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorders. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 16-4978. 
Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016. Available at: 
http://store.samhsa.gov/  
38 Ko JY, Wolicki S, Barfield WD, et al. CDC Grand Rounds: Public Health Strategies to Prevent Neonatal 
Abstinence Syndrome. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:242245. DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6609a2external icon 
39 https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/guideline.html 
40 Morbidity and Mortality Report:  Recommendations and Reports / March 18, 2016 / 65(1);149 
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6501e1.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2F
mmwr%2Fvolumes%2F65%2Frr%2Frr6501e1er.htm 
41 https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/training/online-training.html 
9  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) Home Visiting Program:  Supporting 
Families Impacted by Opioid Use and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome42 
 
HRSA funds the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV), 
which supports voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services for pregnant women and 
parents with young children up to kindergarten entry living in at-risk communities.43  HRSA 
published this resource for awardees to provide relevant research, offer information on treatment 
strategies for awardees and their state partners, and highlight efforts underway in a number of 
states.  This resource discusses a wide variety of practical applications, strategies for action by 
state and local components of the home visiting community, implementation of evidence based 
home visiting models and other examples from states, and a wide array of resources, 
background, research evaluation data and policy information and resources for use in developing 
strategies for prevention and treatment of SUD.44 
 
Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy: State Policy Levers for Expanding 
Family-Centered Medication-Assisted Treatment45 
 
Since MAT is the recommended clinical practice for treating pregnant and postpartum women 
with OUD, this report from the HHS Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy 
sought to define how MAT can be combined with family-centered services.  This report further 
examined a selection of state and local treatment programs targeted to pregnant and parenting 
women and their families to identify key challenges and opportunities in expanding access to 
comprehensive, family-centered services and MAT treatment for this population.46 
 
Office of Special Education Issue Brief:  Intervention IDEAs for Infants, Toddlers, Children and 
Youth Impacted by Opioids 
 
The U.S. Office of Special Education published an Issue Brief that provides prevalence 
information regarding the impact of opioids on infants, toddlers, children and youth, as well as a 
list of risk factors associated with opioid exposure.  The document also provides strategies for 
prevention and intervention, including descriptions and quality indicators, and provides specific 
                                                      
42 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/MaternalChildHealthInitiatives/HomeVisiting/MIECHV-Opioid-
NAS-Resource.pdf 
43 HRSA Home Visiting Program: Supporting Families Impacted by Opioid Use and NAS, at pg3 
44 For additional information on Medicaid and Home Visiting, see the Joint Informational Bulletin,   
 Coverage of Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Services, https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-
policy-guidance/downloads/cib-03-02-16.pdf  
45 Julie Seibert, PhD, Holly Stockdale, MA, Rose Feinberg, MA, Erin Dobbins, MA, Elysha Theis, BA, and Sarita 
L. Karon, PhD, RTI International .  https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/state-policy-levers-expanding-family-centered-
medication-assisted-treatment This report was prepared under contract #HHSP233201600021I between the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy 
(DALTCP) and the Research Triangle Institute Expanding Access to Family-Centered Medication-Assisted 
Treatment Issue Brief 
46 For additional information, see  Expanding Access to Family-Centered Medication-Assisted Treatment Issue Brief 
https://aspe.hhs.gov/pdf-report/expanding-access-family-centered-medication-assisted-treatment-issue-brief and 
State Policy Levers for Expanding Family-Centered Medication Assisted Treatment https://aspe.hhs.gov/pdf-
report/state-policy-levers-expanding-family-centered-medication-assisted-treatment 
10  resources for more information.  The Issue Brief additionally discusses NAS interventions, 
various forms of therapy for children and youth, and treatment programs for mothers with SUD, 
designed for use by parents, schools, and programs.47 
 
Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients 
and the Community Act (SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act): Provisions and 
Subsequent Guidance 
 
The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act48 includes many provisions to improve 
services to infants with NAS and their families.  While many provisions will assist states in 
addressing the opioid epidemic, certain provisions are particularly relevant to benefits and the 
delivery of services under the Medicaid program.  Title I of the SUPPORT for Patients and 
Communities Act includes many Medicaid-specific provisions to address the opioid crisis,49 and 
Title III, Subtitle B, Chapter 1 contains provisions that provide more flexibility with respect to 
Medicaid covered MAT for opioid disorders.50  Title V contains subtitles that provide other 
changes to Medicaid and CHIP, including CHIP mental health and substance use disorder parity, 
activities and guidance regarding opportunities to design demonstration projects under section 
1115 of the Social Security Act (the Act) to improve care transitions for certain individuals who 
are soon-to-be former inmates of a public institution and otherwise eligible for Medicaid, and a 
Medicaid state plan option to provide Medicaid coverage, from October 1, 2019 through 
September 30, 2023, to beneficiaries age 21 through 64 who have at least one SUD diagnosis and 
reside in an eligible Institution for Mental Diseases.51  Other sections address protection of 
pregnant women and infants52 and supporting family-focused residential treatment.53  
 
U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report to Congressional Committees:  Medicaid:  
Opioid Use Disorder Services for Pregnant and Postpartum Women, and Children 
 
Section 1005(b) of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act requires that GAO conduct 
a study and submit a report to Congress addressing gaps in coverage for pregnant women with 
SUD under the Medicaid program.  This report, issued in October, 2019, provides information 
and an overview of selected states that provide Medicaid and other coverage for OUD for 
eligible pregnant and postpartum women, states that provide Medicaid coverage for annual 
screenings and other medically necessary services for SUD for eligible children, and a discussion 
of the use of telehealth in schools.54   
 
Medicaid Guidance and Resources: Best Practices for Infants with NAS and Pregnant 
Women with SUD 
                                                      
47 https://osepideasthatwork.org/sites/default/files/IDEAslIssBrief-Opioids-508.pdf 
48 Pub. L. 115-271, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment 
(SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act. 
49 Sections 1001-1018 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act 
50 Sections 3201-3204 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act 
51 Sections 5001-5061 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act   
52 Sections 7061-7065 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act 
53 Sections 8081-8083 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act 
54 https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-40 
11   
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Critical Role for Medicaid in the Care of Infants (2018) 
CMS, CMCS Informational Bulletin 
 
In June 2018, CMS issued an Informational Bulletin that provides states with information for 
designing approaches to treatment of infants with NAS, including Medicaid coverage options 
and limitations.55  It contains a summary of a number of studies on NAS treatment, which 
suggest possible strategies states may want to consider in building effective coverage programs. 
It further discusses ways in which Medicaid can support the mothers, fathers, and caregivers of 
the infants in providing care that can improve health outcomes for their infants with NAS. 
 
This Informational Bulletin also provides a discussion of Medicaid payment options for coverage 
of NAS Treatment to infants.  It also discusses options for provision of services to mothers, 
fathers, and caregivers who are Medicaid eligible in their own right, as well as mothers, fathers 
and caregivers who may not have Medicaid eligibility themselves, but are involved in learning 
and delivering critical services for the benefit of the infant.  It includes a discussion of different 
settings in which the services may be delivered, as well as options for design of Medicaid 
payment methodologies. 
 
Section 1007 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act: State Guidance for 
Implementation of the Treatment for Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Residential 
Pediatric Recovery Centers CMS, CMCS Informational Bulletin  
 
On July 26, 2019, CMS issued an Informational Bulletin, in accordance with the new provisions 
in the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.  The Bulletin provides guidance to states by 
describing the impact of the laws newly defined residential pediatric recovery centers on 
states delivery of services to infants with NAS and to their mothers, family members and 
caregivers.56 
 
Section 1010 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Community Act: Medicaid Strategies for Non-
Opioid Pharmacologic and Non-Pharmacologic Chronic Pain Management CMS, CMCS 
Informational Bulletin 
 
This Informational Bulletin57 describes Medicaid authorities that states may use for coverage of 
non-opioid pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain management therapies, highlights some 
preliminary strategies used by several states, and includes useful resources to help states consider 
appropriate pain relief approaches within the context of the national opioid crisis.  While the 
focus of this Informational Bulletin is on non-opioid chronic pain management, states may 
consider the strategies outlined here for the treatment of acute pain as well.  
 
Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic, CMS State Medicaid Director Letter (SMDL) # 17-
003 issued November 1, 2017 
 
                                                      
55 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib060818.pdf  
56 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib072619-1007.pdf  
57 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib022219.pdf  
12  Demonstration projects authorized under section 1115 of the Act allow states to test innovative 
policy and delivery approaches that promote the objectives of the Medicaid program.  On 
November 1, 2017, CMS announced a section 1115(a) demonstration initiative to improve access 
to and quality of treatment for Medicaid beneficiaries as part of a Department-wide effort to 
combat the nations ongoing opioid crisis.  This initiative aims to give states flexibility to design 
demonstrations that improve access to high quality, clinically appropriate treatment for SUDs 
while incorporating metrics for analyzing whether outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries are in 
fact improving.  Through this section 1115 initiative, states can receive Federal Financial 
Participation (FFP) for the continuum of services to treat addiction to opioids or other 
substances, including services provided to beneficiaries who are short-term residents in inpatient 
treatment facilities that qualify as IMDs, primarily to receive SUD treatment.58 
 
Leveraging Medicaid Technology to Address the Opioid Crisis, CMS SMDL, # 18-006, issued 
June 11, 2018 
 
This SMDL provides information to states on which Federal funding authorities might support 
health information technology efforts such as telemedicine and prescription monitoring tools, 
which could be used in states efforts to ensure effective treatment availability and opioid 
awareness activities.59 
 
Section 8081 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act: Family Focused Residential 
Treatment Programs 
 
Section 8081 requires guidance to be issued that describes existing opportunities and flexibilities 
under the Medicaid program, including under waivers authorized under section 1115 or 1915 of 
the Social Security Act, for states to receive federal Medicaid funding for the provision of SUD 
treatment for pregnant and postpartum women, parents and guardians, and, to the extent 
applicable, their children, in family-focused residential treatment programs.  Section 8081 also 
requires the guidance to describe how states can employ and coordinate funding provided under 
the Medicaid program, the title IV-E foster care maintenance program, and other programs 
administered by HHS, as well as relevant sections of the Family First Prevention Services Act,60 
to support the provision of treatment and services provided by a family-focused residential 
treatment facility.  The term family-focused residential treatment program means a trauma-
informed residential program primarily for substance use disorder treatment for pregnant and 
postpartum women and parents and guardians that allows children to reside with such women or 
their parents or guardians during treatment to the extent appropriate and applicable. 
 
III.  Services and Financing Options for States under Medicaid and CHIP  
 
A.  Services and Options Under the Medicaid Program 
 
Medicaid Services to Infants with NAS 
                                                      
58 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/SMD17003.pdf 
59 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd18006.pdf 
60 Title VII of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Pub.L. 115123, Feb. 9, 2018. 
13   
CMS issued comprehensive guidance regarding NAS and the critical role Medicaid plays in 
meeting the needs of infants.61  This guidance provides background on the role of Medicaid in 
the care of infants, including a discussion of potential Medicaid services and available financing 
options.  The guidance also discusses best practices focusing on prevention, screening, treatment 
(including the importance of involvement of mothers in the infants treatment whenever 
possible) and post-discharge services (including continuity of care) for infants and their 
families.62  Subsequently, in response to the requirements of Section 1007 of the SUPPORT for 
Patients and Communities Act, CMS issued further clarification to states regarding the use and 
financing options for the optional provider type, residential pediatric recovery centers 
(RPRCs).63  
 
Medicaid Services to Parents and Caregivers 
 
Medical assistance is defined as payment for part or all of the cost of care and services for 
individuals who are Medicaid-eligible.64  Therefore, Medicaid can cover services provided to 
parents and other caregivers if they are Medicaid-eligible in their own right and meet a states 
medical necessity criteria for the service. 
 
The following is an overview of some of the Medicaid state plan benefits that states may use to 
cover screening, prevention, and treatment services for parents and other caregivers.  CMS is 
available to provide technical assistance to states on these benefit options and other authorities 
that could be used to address needed services for parents and caregivers.  
 
Screening, Diagnostic, and Preventive Services  
 
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) is an independent, volunteer 
panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine.  The Task Force works to 
improve the health of all Americans by making evidence-based recommendations about clinical 
preventive services such as screenings, counseling services, and preventive medications.65  The 
Task Force assigns each recommendation a letter grade (an A, B, C, or D grade or an I 
statement) based on the strength of the evidence and the balance of benefits and harms of a 
preventive service.  
 
Until recently, the Task Force did not include a recommendation for screening for unhealthy 
drug use among adults.  As of June 9, 2020, the Task Force recommends screening by asking 
questions about unhealthy drug use in adults age 18 years or older.66  Screening should be 
implemented when services for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate care can 
be offered or referred. (Screening refers to asking questions about unhealthy drug use, not testing 
biological specimens.)  Other recommendations related to unhealthy alcohol use and tobacco use 
                                                      
61 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib060818.pdf 
62 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib060818.pdf 
63 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib072619-1007.pdf 
64 Section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act 
65 https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Name/about-the-uspstf 
66 https://uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/drug-use-illicit-screening 
14  were recommended by the Task Force in prior years.  In 2018, the Task Force recommended 
screening for unhealthy alcohol use in primary care settings in adults 18 years or older, including 
pregnant women, and providing persons engaged in risky or hazardous drinking with brief 
behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use.67  In 2015, the Task Force 
also recommended that clinicians ask all pregnant women about tobacco use, advise pregnant 
women who use tobacco to stop, and provide behavioral interventions for cessation to pregnant 
women who use tobacco.68  Other Task Force recommendations related to womens screening 
and preventative services may be of interest and can be found on the Task Force web site.69  
 
A state could opt to cover screening for pregnant women for drug use under several Medicaid 
state plan benefits such as the screening services, diagnostic services, and preventive services. 
Screening services are defined as the use of standardized tests given under medical direction in 
the mass examination of a designated population to detect the existence of one or more particular 
diseases or health deviations or to identify for more definitive studies individuals suspected of 
having certain diseases.70  States would need to discuss their proposed screening services and 
the relevant population(s) with CMS in order for CMS to determine whether the state would 
need to submit a SPA to revise current coverage policies. 
 
The diagnostic services benefit is another optional state plan benefit that states may use to cover 
diagnostic services for SUDs.  Diagnostic services are defined as any medical procedures or 
supplies recommended by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts, within the 
                                                      
67 Task Force recommendation on Unhealthy Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Adults: Screening and Behavioral 
Counseling Interventions: adults 18 years or older, including pregnant women, issued November 13, 2018, 
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/unhealthy-alcohol-use-in-adolescents-and-
adults-screening-and-behavioral-counseling-interventions Assigned a Grade B 
68 Task Force recommendation on Tobacco Smoking Cessation in Adults, Including Pregnant Women: Behavioral 
and Pharmacotherapy Interventions: pregnant women, issued September 21, 2015, 
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/tobacco-use-in-adults-and-pregnant-women-
counseling-and-interventions Assigned a Grade A 
69 The Task Force recommends that clinicians provide or refer pregnant and postpartum persons who are at 
increased risk of perinatal depression to counseling interventions. See Recommendation on Screening for Perinatal 
Depression, issued February 12, 2019: 
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/perinatal-depression-preventive-
interventions. 
The Task Force also recommends the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection screening for adults in the age group 18 to 
79 years. This update comes against the background of increasing HCV over the last ten years, primarily due to 
higher injection drug use, and closer monitoring.  See Recommendation on Screening for HCV, issued March 2, 
2020:  https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/hepatitis-c-screening. 
The Task Force also recommends providing interventions during pregnancy and after birth to support breastfeeding. 
See Recommendation on Breastfeeding: Primary Care Interventions: pregnant women, new mothers, and their 
children, issued October 25, 2016, 
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/breastfeeding-primary-care-interventions. 
Section 2713 of the Public Health Services Act requires health plans to cover, without cost-sharing, Task Force 
Grade A and B preventive services, immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization 
Practices, preventive services and care for children/adolescents, and such additional preventive care and screenings 
as provided for in comprehensive guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration with 
respect to women  This link discusses the updated HRSA guidelines for women:  https://www.hrsa.gov/womens-
guidelines/index.html 
70 42 CFR 440.130(b) 
15  scope of his practice under State law, to enable him to identify the existence, nature, or extent of 
illness, injury, or other health deviation in a beneficiary.71  
 
The optional state plan preventive services benefit can also be used to cover services 
recommended by a physician or other licensed practitioner of the healing arts acting within the 
scope of authorized practice under state law to: 
(1) Prevent disease, disability, and other health conditions or their progression;  
(2) Prolong life; and  
(3) Promote physical and mental health and efficiency.72  
 
Preventive services must involve direct patient care and address the individuals physical or 
mental health, rather than the individuals environment.  States typically use the preventive 
services benefit to cover services such as tobacco cessation counseling and diabetes preventive 
services such as nutritional and physical exercise counseling.  Licensed and unlicensed 
practitioners may furnish preventive services.73  To modify the states current coverage of 
preventive services, a state plan amendment (SPA) may need to be submitted to CMS, including 
descriptions for each proposed service, an identification of each practitioner type qualified to 
furnish each service, and a brief summary of the practitioner qualifications.  For licensed 
practitioners, the state plan need only indicate that they are licensed, unless the state requires 
additional qualifications beyond licensure.  For unlicensed practitioners, the state plan must 
include any certification, registration, education, experience and supervisory arrangements that 
the state requires for an individual to be qualified to provide the service.   
 
In addition, states could opt to cover under their preventive services benefit all the Task Forces 
grade A and B recommendations, and all approved adult vaccines and their administration as 
recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices, without cost-sharing, 
and receive a one percent increase in their FMAP.74   
 
Treatment Services 
 
The rehabilitative services benefit is an important optional state plan benefit for coverage of 
SUD treatment services.75  Medicaid regulations at 42 CFR  440.130(d) broadly define 
rehabilitative services as any medical or remedial services recommended by a physician or 
other licensed practitioner of the healing arts, within the scope of his practice under state law, for 
maximum reduction of physical or mental disability and restoration of a beneficiary to his best 
possible functional level.  As with preventive services, a state seeking to modify its current 
coverage of rehabilitative services may need to submit a SPA for CMS review, including service 
descriptions for each proposed service, an identification of each practitioner type qualified to 
furnish each service, and a brief summary of the practitioner qualifications.  Examples of SUD 
treatment services that states could cover under the rehabilitative services benefit include 
                                                      
71 42 CFR 440.130(a) 
72 42 CFR 440.130(c) 
73 https://www.medicaid.gov/sites/default/files/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/CIB-11-27-2013-Prevention.pdf  
74 Section 4106 of the Affordable Care Act 
75 Section 1905(a)(13) of the Social Security Act 
16  assessments, individual and group therapy, peer support services, MAT, withdrawal 
management, and skills restoration.   
 
Another optional state plan benefit that states can use to cover treatment services is the other 
licensed practitioner benefit.76  As set forth in 42 CFR Section 440.60(a), other licensed 
practitioner services are any medical or remedial care or services, other than physicians 
services, provided by licensed practitioners within the scope of practice as defined under State 
law.  Under this benefit, states do not need to detail the covered services or list practitioner 
qualifications in the state plan or proposed SPA.  States only need to include language indicating 
that the services of a licensed practitioner, such as a licensed psychologist, social worker, or 
addiction counselor, are covered.  States could also cover unlicensed practitioners under the 
supervision of the licensed practitioner provided that the supervision is in accordance with the 
licensed practitioners scope of practice under state law and the licensed practitioner assumes 
professional responsibility for the unlicensed practitioner.  
 
Care Management 
 
Targeted Case Management is an optional benefit that can be included as a Medicaid state plan 
benefit.77  Effective case management includes: assessing the need for medical, educational, 
social and other services; development of a specific individualized care plan; referral and related 
activities to help the individual obtain needed services; and monitoring and follow up activities 
to ensure that changes in the needs or status of the individual are reflected in the care plan and 
that the plan is effectively implemented and adequately addresses the needs of the individual.  
Case management assistance to caregivers in accessing transportation, appropriate child care, 
and other services post discharge may be critical in meeting continuing health care needs.   
 
Medicaid Health Homes 
 
One option to coordinate care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome and their parents 
could be a SUD-focused Health Home.  Section 1945 of the Social Security Act describes an 
optional Medicaid state plan benefit for states to establish Health Homes to integrate care for 
people with Medicaid who have chronic conditions as a way to treat the whole person.  It is 
also important to note all new SUD-focused Health Homes can receive ten quarters of 90% 
enhanced federal match from the effective date of the SPA.   
 
A state can provide the following services under a Health Home: comprehensive care 
management, care coordination, health promotion, comprehensive transitional care/follow-up, 
patient and family support and referral to community and social support services.  A Health 
Home can be established for people (both children and adults) with Medicaid who meet the 
following criteria: have two or more chronic conditions, have one chronic condition and are at 
risk for a second, or have one serious and persistent mental health condition.  In statute, 
substance use disorder is listed as a chronic condition.   
 
When developing an SUD-focused Health Home, a state must keep in mind the following 
                                                      
76  Section 1905(a)(6) of the Social Security Act 
77 42 CFR 440.169 
17  definition and criteria. The term SUD-focused state plan amendment is defined in section 
1945(c)(4)(D) of the Social Security Act to mean a SPA under section 1945 of the Act that is 
designed to provide Health Home services primarily to SUD-eligible individuals. The term 
SUD-eligible individual is defined in section 1945(c)(4)(D) of the Act to mean an individual 
who satisfies all of the following: 1) is an eligible individual with chronic conditions, 2) has a 
substance use disorder, and 3) has not previously received health home services under any other 
SPA.    
 
Medicaid Primary Care Case Management and Integrated Care Models 
 
Medicaid Primary Care Case Management includes case management related services that 
include the location, coordination, and monitoring of primary health care services, and are 
provided under a contract between the state and either a Primary Care Case Manager, a physician 
group practice, or an entity that employs or arranges with physicians to furnish the services.78  
 
Integrated Care Models (ICMs) are characterized by organized and accountable care delivery and 
payment methodologies aligned across payers and providers to ensure effective, seamless, and 
coordinated care.  By orienting the system around the needs and preferences of beneficiaries, 
successful ICMs can demonstrate improved health care outcomes and result in improved 
beneficiary experience, while reducing overall health care expenditures.  ICMs include 
integration of various types of health care services such as primary, acute, specialty, dental, 
behavioral (including SUD), and long-term support services.   
 
Medicaid guidance regarding ICMs, including a discussion of reimbursement and potential for 
shared savings, may be of assistance to states in utilizing these models to provide this continuous 
and coordinated care to parents and their infants with NAS.79  
 
Medicaid Financing Options for Infants with NAS and their Mothers, Fathers, and 
Caregivers 
 
Financing Options in the Treatment of NAS for Infants and Their Families 
 
Prior to the passage of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, CMS issued an 
Informational Bulletin entitled Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Critical Role for Medicaid in 
the Care of Infants.80  In this guidance, CMS not only discussed the complex condition of NAS 
and its diagnosis and treatment, but also provided guidance regarding Medicaid coverage and 
potential payment options for the treatment services to infants with NAS and their mothers, 
fathers and caregivers.  
                                                      
78 42 CFR 440.168 
79 Integrated Care Models CMCS State Medicaid Director Letter, SMDL#12-001 ICM#1, July 10, 2012 
https://www.medicaid.gov/Federal-Policy-Guidance/downloads/SMD-12-001.pdf 
Policy Considerations for Integrated Care Models CMCS State Medicaid Director Letter, SMDL #12-002 ICM#2 
July 10, 2012 https://www.medicaid.gov/Federal-Policy-Guidance/downloads/SMD-12-002.pdf  
Shared Savings Methodologies CMCS State Medicaid Director Letter, SMDL #13-005 ICM#3 
https://www.medicaid.gov/Federal-Policy-Guidance/Downloads/SMD-13-005.pdf  
80 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib060818.pdf  
18   
The Informational Bulletin included a detailed discussion of Medicaid coverage, including an 
overview of general Medicaid requirements, and guidance regarding delivery and payment for 
NAS treatment in a variety of settings.  CMS issued subsequent guidance, providing further 
clarification on the optional provider type of residential pediatric recovery center as required 
by Section 1007 of the SUPPORT Act for Patients and Communities.81    
 
Financing Options in the Treatment of Mothers and Fathers with SUD 
 
States have multiple options for structuring their Medicaid program in order to receive federal 
financial participation for services delivered to pregnant and postpartum women, parents and 
guardians.   
 
Additionally, states have flexibility in setting payment rates for services provided within the 
Medicaid program to promote access and quality care.  For instance, states may pay higher rates 
for services provided to individuals with significant care needs or in geographic areas where 
access to care may be of concern.  States may also offer providers financial incentives to 
improve beneficiary outcomes based on meeting certain targets, which may include treatment 
outcomes.   
 
Under current Medicaid law, medical assistance payment for room and board is only available 
with respect to the facilities that provide Medicaid-covered, institutionally-based, benefits: 
nursing facilities, inpatient hospitals, psychiatric hospitals for individuals under age 21, 
institutions for mental diseases for individuals age 65 or older that otherwise would qualify as an 
inpatient setting, and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities that 
also meet certain federal standards and conditions of participation requirements prescribed by the 
Secretary.  Thus, an RPRC would only be able to receive a Medicaid payment for room and 
board if the RPRC furnishes services under one of these benefits and meets the applicable 
requirements. 
 
Treatment services to address SUD for a Medicaid eligible parent or caregiver may be delivered 
outside of residential settings, in residential treatment settings, or in inpatient settings, depending 
on the needs of the individual.  The extent to which expenditures for services are eligible for 
federal match depends on a range of factors, including the eligibility category of the beneficiary, 
the setting in which the services are furnished, and the Medicaid authority under which the state 
has elected to cover the services.82 
 
Medicaid Limited Exception to the Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD) Exclusion for Certain 
Pregnant and Postpartum Women 
 
On July 26, 2019, CMS issued guidance to states on section 1012 of the SUPPORT for Patients 
and Communities Act, entitled Help for Moms and Babies.  Section 1012 creates a new limited 
exception to the IMD exclusion.83  Specifically, section 1012(a) states that for a woman who is 
                                                      
81 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib072619-1007.pdf  
82 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd17003.pdf  
83 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib072619-1012.pdf  
19  eligible on the basis of being pregnant (and up to 60-days postpartum), who is a patient in an 
IMD for purposes of receiving treatment for a SUD, who is either enrolled under the state plan 
immediately before becoming a patient in the IMD, or who becomes eligible to enroll while a 
patient in an IMD, the IMD exclusion shall not prohibit federal financial participation (FFP) for 
medical assistance for items and services provided outside of the IMD to the woman. States may 
now claim FFP for pregnancy and pregnancy related services provided outside the IMD to 
women who meet these criteria.  This limited exception became effective on October 24, 2018, 
the date of enactment of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.  
 
Financing Options under Medicaid Managed Care 
 
Under certain conditions, the Medicaid managed care regulations at 42 CFR part 438 allow states 
to continue paying Medicaid capitation payments to managed care organizations and prepaid 
inpatient health plans for enrollees aged 21-64 receiving short term inpatient treatment in an 
IMD when the requirements in 42 CFR 438.3(e)(2)(i)-(iii) and 438.6(e) are satisfied.  Many 
states enroll pregnant women into managed care and by using these provisions, have been able to 
provide more treatment options than were otherwise available under the state plan. 
 
Options under Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Projects 
 
Section 1115 of the Act gives the Secretary of HHS authority to approve experimental, pilot, or 
demonstration projects that are found by the Secretary to be likely to assist in promoting the 
objectives of the Medicaid program. In addition, demonstrations need to be budget neutral to the 
federal government.  The purpose of these demonstrations, which give states additional 
flexibility to design and improve their programs, is to demonstrate and evaluate state-specific 
policy approaches to better serving Medicaid populations. 
 
As part of the HHS effort to combat the ongoing opioid crisis, on November 1, 2017, CMS 
issued guidance describing additional flexibilities to help states improve access to and quality of 
SUD treatment through Medicaid section 1115 demonstrations. 
 
For more information on these substance use disorder demonstration projects, see: 
https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/innovation-accelerator-program/program-
areas/reducing-substance-use-disorders/1115-sud-demonstrations/index.html.  For more 
information on the flexibilities to design section 1115 demonstrations to improve access to high 
quality, clinically appropriate treatment for OUD and SUDs as discussed in the SMDL on 
Strategies to Address the Opioid Epidemic issued Nov. 1, 2017, see: 
www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd17003.pdf 
 
B.  Services and Options under CHIP  
 
Options and financing for prevention, screening, treatment to parents with SUD, infants 
with NAS and home visiting services 
 
CHIP HSIs are an option under title XXI of the Act that states can consider to fund activities 
related to the prevention, screening and treatment of SUD and NAS, including home visiting 
20  programs.  Under section 2105(a)(1)(D)(ii) of the Act, states have the option to develop state-
designed HSIs that improve the health of low-income and targeted low-income children.84  
Under implementing regulations at 42 CFR 457.10, HSIs must include activities that protect the 
public health, protect the health of individuals, improve or promote a states capacity to deliver 
public health services, or strengthen the human and material resources necessary to accomplish 
public health goals related to improving the health of children.  HSIs may be directed at low-
income pregnant women or parents; however, HSIs may only provide services for adults if the 
project directly improves the health of children.  Additional details on the financing of HSIs are 
discussed below. 
 
There is a wide variety of approved HSI projects.  States have used HSIs to provide health care 
services,85 health-related educational programs in schools, community-based public health 
outreach, and provider education on current treatment and prescribing practices.  HSIs also 
provide opportunities for states to fund activities targeted to children who have been impacted by 
NAS or OUD, or their parents as long as the activities directly impact the health of the child.  For 
example, several states currently use HSIs to provide home visitation programs for vulnerable 
populations, such as teen parents or children who are at risk for involvement or have been 
involved with child protective services.  States may consider home visitation programs designed 
specifically for families with infants diagnosed with NAS that are focused on improving parental 
capacity and ability to care for infants with this condition.  States could also consider using HSIs 
to supplement funding where the need exceeds existing resources, such as building on existing 
SUD prevention programs targeting children and young adults.  Additionally, states have 
implemented HSIs to increase the use of naloxone, an important life-saving overdose reversal 
agent.  Specifically, states have provided naloxone kits to families with children under 19 who 
have individuals in the home at risk for opioid overdose and training for teachers and other 
school employees on how to administer naloxone.  When designing a HSI proposal, we 
encourage states to utilize evidence based programs or practices when developing interventions 
to ensure that HSI funds are being used effectively to improve the health of children.      
 
Federal funding for HSIs comes from a portion of the states available CHIP allotment for the 
relevant fiscal year.  HSI expenditures (including for administration of the HSI itself) are subject 
to a cap (referred to in regulation as the 10 percent limit) that also applies to administrative 
expenses and other certain expenditures described in section 2105(a)(1)(D) of the Act.  Under 
section 2105(c)(2)(A) of the Act and regulations at 42 CFR 457.618, federal payment for HSIs, 
administrative expenditures and other certain expenditures cannot exceed the 10 percent limit of 
the total of expenditures under the plan claimed by the state for the federal fiscal year as 
reported through the appropriate quarterly federal claiming forms.  Within the 10 percent limit, 
states should fund costs associated with administration of the CHIP state plan first; any funds left 
over can be used for an HSI, subject to the 10 percent cap.  In addition, consistent with section 
2105(c)(6)(B) of the Act and 42 CFR 457.626, states must assure that title XXI funds used to 
support an HSI cannot supplant Medicaid or other sources of federal funding (other than an 
                                                      
84 42 CFR 457.10  Low income and targeted low income children include children up to a states CHIP 
eligibility level or 200 percent of the FPL, if higher. Child means an individual under the age of 19 including the 
period from conception to birth.  
85 HSIs may not be used to cover health care services when Medicaid, non-governmental insurers, or other sources 
of funding (including other federal sources of funding) would reasonably be expected to pay for the services or the 
services could be coverable under those funding sources, consistent with the requirements of 42 CFR 457.626. 
21  insurance program operated or financed by the Indian Health Service).  Depending on the nature 
of the project, states should demonstrate that they have a process in place to coordinate work 
with other agencies administering federally funded programs and with respect to other 
expenditures of federal funds. 
 
To implement a HSI, states must submit a CHIP SPA that includes a detailed description of the 
HSI and a completed budget in sections 2.2 and 9.10 respectively of the CHIP state plan.  States 
must be able to illustrate that the proposed HSI would impact the health of children.  
Additionally, as required under section 2108 of the Act, states must report on CHIP annually, 
including any outcomes related to their HSIs.  We encourage states interested in pursuing a HSI 
to consult CMS about their proposal or to submit a draft SPA prior to making an official 
submission.  For technical assistance, please reach out to your CHIP project offer to discuss 
possible HSI proposals.  If there are additional questions specific to this guidance, please contact 
Meg Barry, Deputy Director, Division of State Coverage Programs, at (410)-786-1536.   
 
IV.  Additional Opportunities and Technical Assistance Available to State Medicaid 
Agencies  
 
Technical Assistance and Information through the Medicaid Innovation Accelerator Program 
(IAP) 
 
The Medicaid IAP was developed to help improve the care and health of Medicaid beneficiaries 
and to reduce costs by supporting states ongoing delivery system and payment reforms through 
targeted technical assistance, tool development, and cross-state learning opportunities. 
 
By supporting states ongoing payment and delivery system reforms, IAP aims to improve the 
health and health care of Medicaid beneficiaries and to reduce costs. As part of IAPs work with 
state Medicaid agencies in the areas of reducing SUDs and designing value-based payment for 
maternal and infant health, the program works with state Medicaid agencies to support data 
analysis and create data analytics tools related to screening, prevention, and post discharge 
services for maternal substance use disorders. This work has included data analysis resources 
that use maternal and infant claims data related to care for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid 
beneficiaries with OUD and infants born with NAS. For more information, visit 
https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/innovation-accelerator-program/index.html. 
 
Home Visiting Services and the Continuum of Care 
 
Home visiting programs promote nurturing caregiver-child relationships essential to the healthy 
development of infants impacted by NAS.  Intervening early and offering supportive, 
comprehensive services to families can promote responsive, caring parent-child relationships that 
can prevent or reverse negative health effects on the child caused by major stressors like a 
caregivers mental and/or substance use disorder, neglect or abuse.86  Home visiting is often 
cited as an evidence-based intervention that could help prevent or reduce the impact of 
                                                      
86 Center for the Developing Child, Harvard University, web page on Toxic Stress. Retrieved 2/2019 
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/toxic-stress/.  
22  behavioral health challenges through the promotion of protective factors and mitigation of risk 
factors.87  Home visiting programs have a unique opportunity to support families affected by 
SUD and NAS by implementing innovations that build on the trusting relationships between 
home visitors and families and utilizing programs existing networks of outreach, assessment, 
referral and service coordination.  Consistent home visits build trusting relationships between 
home visitors and caregivers, which may serve as a gateway to SUD treatment.88  Home visiting 
programs coordinate with health, early care and education, and family support partners and are 
able to identify and address gaps in services, develop appropriate referral agreements, increase 
interoperability among data systems, and improve system-wide standards of care.  
 
The continuum of care model,89, 90, 91 highlights promotion, prevention, treatment and 
maintenance approaches available to address behavioral health disorders.  Across the continuum 
of care, home visiting programs innovate to support families affected by SUD and NAS through 
a number of strategies, such as:  
  establishing and enhancing centralized access points and targeted referral agreements to 
enroll families affected by SUD and NAS; 
  screening families for SUD on a periodic basis in accordance with a validated tool;  
  tailoring services, in fidelity to home visiting models, to meet the needs of families 
affected by SUD by using SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to 
Treatment92), motivational interviewing, and other practices;  
  incorporating SUD symptom and harm reduction to family goal planning; 
  addressing family risk factors for SUD and NAS, and promoting protective factors that 
mitigate risk; 
  implementing home visiting model enhancements to address substance misuse;   
  expanding parents knowledge of child development to promote positive parent-child 
relationships; 
  supporting mothers in caring for babies affected by neonatal abstinence syndrome, Fetal 
Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or other challenges connected to SUD;  
  referring families to assessment and treatment, including MAT when indicated;  
  providing case management to help families maintain necessary care for infants affected 
by NAS and help parents adhere to SUD treatment and maintenance plans;  
                                                      
87 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-substance-abuse-prevention-early-childhood/principles-
substance-abuse-prevention-early-childhood  
88 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. (2018). HRSAs 
Home Visiting Program: Supporting Families Impacted by Opioid Use and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. 
89 Institute of Medicine. (1994). Reducing risks for mental disorders: Frontiers for preventive intervention research. 
P. J. Mrazek & R. J. Haggerty (Eds.). Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. 
doi:https://doi.org/10.17226/2139 
90 National Research Council, & Institute of Medicine. (2009). Preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral 
disorders among young people: Progress and possibilities. M. E. OConnell, T. F. Boat, & K. E. Warner (Eds.). 
Washington, DC: National Academies Press. doi:https://doi.org/10.17226/12480 
91 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General, Facing Addiction in 
America: The Surgeon Generals Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Washington, DC: HHS, November 2016. 
92 Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based practice used to identify, 
reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. More information is 
available here: https://www.integration.samhsa.gov/clinical-practice/sbirt#why. 
23    providing ongoing professional development, mental health consultation and reflective 
supervision to build knowledge and skills among home visitors in identifying and 
meeting families behavioral health needs; 
  building a home visiting workforce peer support model that includes parents in recovery; 
  utilizing and scaling continuous quality improvement methods to improve outcomes for 
families affected by SUD and NAS;  
  incorporating gender-informed and trauma-informed approaches that reduce the stigma 
and discriminatory perceptions and impact of SUD and NAS into organizational policies 
and practices and maximize home visiting as a strategy to prevent SUD;  
  coordinating with local mental health, SUD treatment, and other service providers, 
including health centers and recovery support systems, to improve families access to 
high-quality treatment and social supports; and 
  building state and local comprehensive and equitable two-generation systems of care to 
improve coordination of services for at-risk communities and families that include 
pregnant and parenting women and their children impacted by SUD and NAS, including 
collaboration with maternal and child health, early childhood, behavioral health, and 
child welfare partners. 
These services strive to coordinate medical and other critical services for parents and caretakers 
and their infants at home.  The majority of home visiting programs deliver services such as 
screening, case management, family support, counseling, and skills training, although each 
program utilizes its own eligibility criteria and service structure.   
 
Medicaid coverage for home visiting services would depend on whether 1) the infant and/or 
parent or other caregiver is Medicaid-eligible; and 2) the proposed services are (or could be) 
coverable through existing Medicaid coverage authorities. Examples of Medicaid state plan 
benefits that include services that may be furnished as part of a Medicaid funded home visiting 
approach are: case management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language and 
audiology services, preventive services, rehabilitative services, and home health services.93  
States interested in covering new or additional home visiting services may contact CMS for 
technical assistance in evaluating whether the proposed services are coverable under the state 
plan and whether a SPA would be required. 
 
States may also wish to consider other Medicaid authorities to furnish services within a home 
visiting program such as managed care authorities, home and community-based services waiver 
programs, and section 1115 demonstration programs.  For further information, states can refer to 
the Joint Informational Bulletin on Coverage of Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home 
Visiting Services.94 
 
Residential Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Grant Program (SAMHSA) 
 
The purpose of this program is to expand comprehensive treatment, prevention and recovery 
support services for women and their children in residential substance use treatment facilities, 
                                                      
93 https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib060818.pdf  
94 Coverage of Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Services, CMS/HRSA Joint Informational 
Bulletin at https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib-03-02-16.pdf    
24  including services for non-residential family members of both the women and children. 
 
The populations of focus are low-income (according to federal poverty guidelines) women, age 
18 and over, who are pregnant, postpartum (the period after childbirth up to 12 months), and 
their minor children, age 17 and under, who have limited access to quality health services.  
SAMHSA has identified traditionally underserved populations, especially racial and ethnic 
minority women, as populations of focus.  SAMHSA is particularly concerned about the high 
morbidity and mortality rates of pregnant women and their infants among African Americans. 
Under this grant program, services should be extended, when deemed appropriate, to fathers of 
the children, partners of the women, and other family members of the women and children who 
do not reside in the residential treatment facility.95   
 
The National Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare  
 
The National Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare is co-funded by SAMHSA and the 
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and has extensive resources to assist child 
welfare, substance use professionals and courts around issues related to substance abuse and 
child welfare.96 
 
State Pilot Programs for Treatment of Pregnant and Postpartum Women through Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 
 
SAMHSA has designed a pilot program in order to incorporate a wider range of family-centered 
services for pregnant and postpartum women, their children, and family members in non-
residential/outpatient treatment settings.  The goal of the pilot is to help states provide a well-
coordinated and integrated system, by encouraging new approaches and models of care that can 
be sustained overtime.  There are currently 24 service sites in six states funded through the pilot. 
The project has identified many promising practices and participating states have developed 
mechanisms to bridge gaps in the continuum care of women.97 
 
SAMHSA also funded fourteen states through its Opioid State Targeted Response strategy to 
target pregnant women and their newborns98 and three grantees receiving SAMHSA MAT-
Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction awards are focusing specifically on pregnant women.99 
 
Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Childrens Health) Grant Program 
 
Project LAUNCH provides education and trainings for medical professions and other child 
serving systems (such as child welfare or substance abuse treatment providers) related to 
management of NAS.100  Project LAUNCH grantees have the opportunity to educate all of these 
providers about best practices related to NAS, both in the hospital and post-discharge.  
                                                      
95 For additional information, see:  https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-17-007   
96 For more information, see:  https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/  
97 https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-17-016  
98 https://www.samhsa.gov/state-targeted-response-technical-assistance  
99 The states are Kentucky, Louisiana, and Massachusetts 
100Project LAUNCH is guided by a unique, federal-level partnership among SAMHSA, ACF, HRSA, and CDC. 
https://healthysafechildren.org/grantee/project-launch  
25   
Approaches to Family Centered Care 
 
Given the interplay of addiction, family, and pregnancy, states and programs are increasingly 
acknowledging the value of providing treatment to pregnant and parenting women through 
family-centered programs.  These programs include women, their children, partners, and/or other 
family members in the treatment process, and provide clinical care for all affected family 
members. In addition to clinical treatment -- which includes use of MAT as a best practice for 
treating pregnant and parenting women -- family-centered programs include community-based 
services such as child care, transportation, housing, employment, training, parenting education, 
and linkages to financial aid and other human services programs.  
 
Given the comprehensive nature of the provided services, the implementation of these programs 
often entails utilizing Medicaid funding for covered services, and identifying alternative federal 
and/or state funding for areas not included in Medicaid funding, such as housing or child care.  
States have specifically used the SAMHSA State Targeted Response grants101 and the SAMHSA 
State Opioid Response Grants102 to finance screening and treatment programs for pregnant and 
postpartum women with OUD.  Alternative payment models, like the recently announced 
Maternal; Opioid Misuse (MOM) model developed through the Center for Medicare and 
Medicaid Innovation (the Innovation Center) and discussed below, could allow providers greater 
flexibility in designing programs that support case managers, peer recovery specialists, and other 
non-clinical support professionals and services deemed essential to facilitating family-centered 
care.   
 
In addition, formal and informal partnerships among state agencies that serve this population can 
address many of the barriers to consistent treatment that social risk factors, like housing, food, 
and transportation insecurity.  Since few family-centered programs are available, provider 
education, especially around the use of MAT as a best practice for treating pregnant and 
parenting women with OUD, is fundamental to improving access to services for families affected 
by the opioid crisis. 103 
 
MOM Model, CMS Innovation Center 
 
The MOM Model is a five-year model designed to improve care for pregnant and postpartum 
women enrolled in Medicaid with OUD and their infants.  The model began on January 1, 2020, 
and the following 10 states were awarded funding: Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, 
Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.  The MOM model 
requires states to address fragmentation of care for this population and to support an integrated 
and comprehensive model of care, including maternity care, OUD treatment, primary care, and 
behavioral health care.  States must also ensure the provision of referrals to community supports 
and relevant social services to meet the comprehensive needs of the models target population.  
                                                      
101 https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-17-014 
102 https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/201909041245 
103 Julie Seibert, PhD, Holly Stockdale, MA, Rose Feinberg, MA, Erin Dobbins, MA, Elysha Theis, BA, 
and Sarita L. Karon, PhD, RTI International .  https://aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/state-policy-levers-
expanding-family-centered-medication-assisted-treatment 
26  The model encourages states to tailor their programs for the communities they serve.  This 
flexibility will provide opportunities for research into best practices, potentially building the 
evidence base for various screening tools, treatment types, treatment planning, coordination 
strategies, and post-discharge services.  For more information, see 
https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/maternal-opioid-misuse-model/ 
 
Guidance Regarding Plans of Safe Care 
 
CARA made changes to Title I of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), and 
more specifically added the following requirements: 
  Modifies the state plan requirement at 106(b)(2)(B)(ii) for the state to apply the policies 
and procedures to address the needs of infants born with and identified as being affected 
by all substance abuse (not just illegal substance abuse as was the requirement prior to 
this change). 
  Modifies the state plan requirement at 106(b)(2)(B)(iii) for plans of safe care for infants 
born and identified as being affected by substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms or 
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to add requirements for the state to: 
  ensure the safety and well-being of infants following the release from the care of 
o
health care providers, by (1) addressing the health and substance use disorder 
treatment needs of the infant and affected family or caregiver; and (2) monitoring 
these plans to determine whether and how local entities are making referrals and 
delivering appropriate services to the infant and affected family or caregiver (in 
accordance with state requirements); and develop the plans of safe care for infants 
affected by all substance abuse (not just illegal substance abuse as was the 
requirement prior to this change).  
  Additionally, changes were made to required data reporting requirements. More 
information can be found in Information Memorandum (IM) 16-05.104 
 
The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW)105 is providing 
technical assistance to support states capacity to address families with infants affected by 
prenatal substance exposure.  The NCSACW has identified best practices that reflect 
coordinated, multi-systemic approaches that are grounded in early identification and 
intervention, to assist child welfare, medical, SUD treatment and other systems to support 
families affected by opioid use disorders.  Collaborative planning and implementation of services 
are yielding promising results in communities across the country. Examples of best practices 
include the use of: 
  Early identification, screening and engagement of pregnant women who are using 
substances.  
  Appropriate treatment for pregnant women, including timely access to treatment; access 
to comprehensive MAT; guidelines and standards for treatment that include preparing 
mothers for the birth of their infant who may experience withdrawal syndrome and 
potential involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS); and beginning the 
development of a plan of safe care prior to the birth event. 
                                                      
104 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/resource/im1605  
105 This project is an initiative of HHS jointly funded by SAMHSA and the ACF Administration on Children, Youth, 
and Families (Childrens Bureau) 
27    Consistent hospital policies for screening pregnant women, postpartum women and their 
infants; if universal screening is not feasible, then clearly defined, non-biased criteria for 
who is screened; and hospital standards and practices for care of the infant and mother 
that promote infant/mother attachment and bonding (e.g., breastfeeding, rooming in, skin-
to-skin contact). 
  Consistent hospital notifications to CPS, including developing a set of questions and 
responses that will help CPS hotline workers assess risk and protective factors and safety 
concerns for the infant and mother; comprehensive assessments of the infants physical 
health and the mothers physical and social/emotional health and parenting capacity, 
which will be used to develop a thorough discharge plan and inform a multi-disciplinary 
plan of safe care. 
  Memoranda of Agreement that allow for timely information sharing and monitoring 
infants and families across multiple systems. 
  Ongoing care plans for mothers and their infants that include home visitation, early 
intervention services and recovery supports; and plans of safe care that are of sufficient 
duration to ensure a greater likelihood of family stability and well-being, with sufficient 
monitoring of maternal depression and anxiety, continuing recovery and parental capacity 
to meet her infants needs as well as her own. 
 
Resources to help develop and implement these best practices are available in the document, A 
Collaborative Approach to the Treatment of Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorders: 
Practice and Policy Considerations for Child Welfare, Collaborating Medical and Service 
Providers.106  Additional documents, briefs, webinars and other technical assistance materials 
related to best practices in this area can be found at: 
https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/resources/substance-exposed-infants.aspx. 
 
HRSA Funded Resources, Activities and Tools  
 
Title V Maternal and Child Block Grant Funds 
 
Administered by the Health Resources and Services Administrations (HRSA) Maternal and 
Child Health Bureau (MCHB), the purpose of the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) 
Services Block Grant107 is to improve the health of the nations mothers, children, and families 
through federal/state partnerships that provide each state with needed flexibility to respond to its 
unique MCH population needs.  The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program funds 
states and jurisdictions to provide health care and public health services for pregnant women, 
infants, children, including children with special health care needs, and their families.  As one of 
the programs National Outcome Measures, HRSAs MCHB annually compiles, and makes 
available to states, national and state-level data on the proportion of infants born with drug 
dependency (NAS).  This measure responds to the legislative requirement for such data to be 
reported and monitored.   
 
                                                      
106 https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/files/Collaborative_Approach_508.pdf 
107 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-initiatives/title-v-maternal-and-child-health-services-block-grant-
program 
 
28  Examples of state Title V MCH Block Grant program activities that address NAS include:  
 
  Providing leadership and actively participating in state-level, interagency partnerships 
and collaborations to enhance the early identification, treatment and prevention of NAS 
in pregnant women and their newborns;   
  Coordinating with state healthcare organizations and providers in the development of 
standardized screening procedures, data protocols and treatment strategies for substance 
exposed newborns and their mothers; 
  Promoting screening tools in early detection of high-risk women and newborns, which 
includes educating hospital staff and obstetric practices on evidence-based practice 
models; 
  Advancing care coordination for the NAS-impacted mother-infant dyad Educating 
families and soliciting community engagement to develop and implement NAS plans of 
safe care; 
  Working to improve data reporting and surveillance related to NAS; and 
  Implementing maternal safety bundles or other best practices on obstetric care for women 
with opioid use disorder. 
The Rural Health Impact Program 
 
The Rural Health IMPACT Program108 provides tailored technical assistance to communities to 
implement evidence-based, two-generational strategies that promote health and wellbeing of 
children (prenatally to age 3) and create economic opportunities for their families.  This includes 
supporting rural demonstration sites to (1) ensure rural children and their families have access to 
high quality health, development, education, and family support services that are aligned and 
coordinated, and (2) improve early identification of and intervention for families who have 
experienced or are at-risk for adverse childhood experiences, maternal depression and other 
mental health issues, substance use disorders including opioid use and NAS and other factors 
that lead to poor health and social outcomes.  Current implementation focuses on families of 
infants with NAS or other prenatal substance exposure.   
 
The Infant Toddler Court Program 
 
The overall goal of the Infant-Toddler Court Program109 is to improve the health, well-being, and 
development of infants, toddlers, and families in the child welfare system.  The program 
provides training, technical assistance (TA), implementation support, and evaluation research for 
infant-toddler court teams, which are community-based teams that bring together experts in areas 
including developmental health, judicial leadership, partnership engagement, and family advisors 
to address the specific needs of this at-risk population.  The infant-toddler court team provides 
case management and family support to infants, toddlers and their families in the child welfare 
system many of whom are affected by substance use disorders.  Court teams promote the 
implementation of two-generation, trauma-informed, evidence-based early interventions in the 
                                                      
108 https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding/hrsa-18-105; 
https://mchb.hrsa.gov/earlychildhoodcomprehensivesystems 
109 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/earlychildhoodcomprehensivesystems;  
https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding/hrsa-18-123 
29  court and child welfare systems and across child- and family-serving systems.  Court teams also 
work upstream to prevent child abuse and neglect in communities.  
 
Provider Resources 
 
Clinical providers supporting the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) funded grant 
programs, like the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program in 
particular, use evidence-based approaches to screen, intervene, and refer perinatal women and 
parents of young children, to treatment and recovery support services; they also provide health 
education and guidance for parents of young children including caring for infants born with 
NAS. 
 
MCHB funds the development and implementation of maternal safety bundles, sets of evidence-
based practices, for birthing facilities and providers on the management of women with opioid 
dependence.110  This safety bundle includes tools and training resources, and is one of nine that 
is being implemented through MCHBs Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) 
program.  The ultimate goal of the program is to strengthen the quality of maternity care services 
in order to prevent obstetric emergencies. MCHB also funds the development and dissemination 
of Bright Futures pediatric guidelines, which recommends screening adolescents and young 
adults for alcohol, drug and tobacco use at preventive care visits; and screening those aged 12 to 
21 for depression, which can be a risk factor for substance use.111 
 
Technical Assistance Resources for States and State Partners 
 
In October 2018, the MIECHV program released a technical assistance resource document titled 
HRSAs Home Visiting Program: Supporting Families Impacted by Opioid Use and Neonatal 
Abstinence Syndrome.112  This resource for federal awardees  and other state partners  
provides essential information about the opioid epidemic, opioid use disorder, and NAS.  It 
includes relevant research; offers strategies for MIECHV awardees and their state partners in 
early childhood, public health, and substance misuse and mental health treatment; and highlights 
promising efforts underway in Maine, Colorado, West Virginia, and Massachusetts.  
 
The Supporting State Maternal and Child Health Policy Innovation Program (MCH PIP) aims to 
support innovative policy initiatives at the state level that improve access to quality health care 
for MCH populations.113  These cooperative agreements were awarded to four national MCH 
stakeholders, representing key state-level policymakers and MCH programs.  Together, these 
four stakeholders will each convene policy academies for key state and local MCH policy and 
programs leaders.  The first cohort of academies has a considerable focus on substance use and 
behavioral health overall, in addition to maternal and infant mortality.   
 
                                                      
110 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-topics/maternal-and-womens-health/#AIM 
111 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/maternal-child-health-topics/child-health/bright-futures.html 
112 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/MaternalChildHealthInitiatives/HomeVisiting/MIECHV-Opioid-
NAS-Resource.pdf 
113 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/mchb/AboutMCHB/mch-pip-factsheet.pdf 
30  Under the MCH PIP, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) developed a 
Maternal and Child Health Database that provides up-to-date information about enacted maternal 
and child health (MCH) legislation.114  Legislative topics include the impacts of substance use on 
the MCH population, maternal and child mental health, maternal and infant mortality, women's 
health, childhood obesity and nutrition, and newborn screening. (NCSL, 2019)  
 
MCHB is supporting a challenge called Addressing Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnant Women 
and New Moms.115  This challenge supports innovative technology-based solutions to improve 
access to quality health care for pregnant and new mothers struggling with OUD. Up to $375,000 
in prizes will support tech innovations to reduce barriers in obtaining safe and effective care and 
treatment, especially for families in rural and geographically isolated areas. 
 
Lastly, HRSA has a number of investments targeting SUD.  For information on HRSA-supported 
resources, technical assistance, and training, visit www.hrsa.gov/opioids. 
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Funded Activities and Tools 
 
Addressing Opioid Use Disorder to Improve Infant and Maternal Health Projects  
 
As part of the CDCs strategy to prevent opioid overdoses and harms, the Division of 
Reproductive Health (DRH) ) and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental 
Disabilities (NCBDDD) continues their work to prevent, identify, and improve access to 
treatment of OUD among pregnant and postpartum women and women of reproductive age and 
better understand and respond to NAS. With support from CDCs National Center of Injury 
Prevention and Control (NCIPC) , DRH expanded its opioid-related activities in 2018 and 2019.  
This work includes conducting activities and providing technical assistance and information 
related to conducting surveillance and research, building state, local and tribal capacity for 
prevention, and supporting providers, health systems, and payers.  More information on the 
research, publications, learning collaboratives, and state technical assistance projects is available 
on their website.116    
 
NCBDDD activities aim to improve NAS surveillance; improve understanding of NAS in the 
context of medication assisted treatment (MAT); support state leadership teams to improve infant 
health and prenatal care of women with OUD; improve understanding of the spectrum of 
maternal, infant, and child health outcomes following treatment for OUD during pregnancy; and 
explore current policies and practices of child welfare agencies for the identification, referral for 
diagnosis and care of children with prenatal exposure to alcohol and other drugs, including 
opioids.  More information on NCBDDD activities can be found on the CDC website.117  
 
The Opioid Use Disorder, Maternal Outcomes, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Initiative 
(OMNI)  
                                                      
114 http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/maternal-and-child-health-database.aspx  
115 https://mchbgrandchallenges.hrsa.gov/  
116 https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/substance-abuse/opioid-use-disorder-
pregnancy/addressing-opioid-use-maternal-infant-health.htm#bldg  
117 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/aboutus/pregnancy/nas.html  
31   
OMNI is a collaborative Learning Community that shares strategies and best practices for 
policies and programs designed to improve the identification and treatment of pregnant and 
postpartum women with opioid use disorder and infants prenatally exposed to opioids. Thirteen 
state teams - that consist of state health officials; Title V directors; behavioral, mental health, or 
alcohol and drug abuse directors; Medicaid medical directors; and provider or facility champions 
- are participating in the initiative.118 
 
CDC State Perinatal Quality Collaboratives 119 
 
In 2019, supplemental funding was available to expand the work of existing CDC-funded PQCs 
to improve quality of care and outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use 
disorder and newborns with NAS. This funding will support training and help states build their 
capacity to use best practices for screening, treating, and coordinating care for these at-risk 
populations. This includes provider training, protocol implementation and screening and linkage 
to care  
 
Maternal and Infant Network to Understand Outcomes Associated with Treatment for Opioid 
Use Disorder During Pregnancy (MAT-LINK) 120 
 
CDC receives funding from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and 
Evaluations Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCOR-TF) to implement MAT-
LINK. MAT-LINK aims to improve our understanding of the spectrum of maternal, infant, and 
child health outcomes following treatment for OUD during pregnancy by establishing a 
surveillance network, consisting of four clinical sites, to collect existing data on maternal, infant, 
and child health outcomes associated with treatments for OUD during pregnancy. 
 
State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Based Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Standardized 
Surveillance Case Definition Implementation Project 121 
 
CDC  receives funding to conduct surveillance of outcomes of infants born with NAS.  In 
collaboration with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), NCBDDD is 
supporting four health departments to conduct NAS surveillance using the CSTE Standardized 
Case Definition (Tier 1) while leveraging existing surveillance infrastructure.  The new 
standardized case definition will allow for more consistent and comparable data on NAS across 
jurisdictions to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of NAS.   
 
V.  Guidance regarding effective terminology and ICD codes to identify infants with 
neonatal abstinence syndrome and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, which 
could include opioid-exposure, opioid withdrawal not requiring pharmacotherapy, 
                                                      
118 https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/substance-abuse/opioid-use-disorder-
pregnancy/addressing-opioid-use-maternal-infant-health.htm 
119 https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pqc.htm 
120 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/aboutus/mat-link.html 
121 https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/aboutus/pregnancy/nas.html) 
32  and opioid withdrawal requiring pharmacotherapy. 
 
Section 1005(a)(4) of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act requires that the 
Secretary of HHS issue guidance regarding suggested terminology and ICD122 codes to identify 
infants with NAS and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), which could include 
opioid-exposure, opioid withdrawal not requiring pharmacotherapy, and opioid withdrawal 
requiring pharmacotherapy. 
 
ICD-10-CM is the HIPAA123 adopted code set for medical diagnoses.124  The CDCs National 
Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) is responsible for maintenance of the ICD-10-CM 
classification.  CMS worked with classifications and public health staff from CDC to identify the 
relevant ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes to satisfy this statutory requirement.  
 
In selecting the ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, CMS and CDC agency staff reviewed the 
conditions classified in Chapter 16- Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period, in 
code ranges P00-P96. The term neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) does not 
appear in the ICD-10-CM classification.  Additionally, the terms NAS and NOWS are generally 
used interchangeably.125  There are also currently no specific ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes for 
opioid-exposure, opioid withdrawal not requiring pharmacotherapy, and opioid withdrawal 
requiring pharmacotherapy in neonates.  Each state payer determines how standard codes will be 
used to meet their program operating needs and their claims adjudication process.  
 
The most relevant diagnosis code is currently ICD-10-CM diagnosis code P96.1 (Neonatal 
withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs of addiction).  This code is applicable to drug 
withdrawal syndrome in infants of dependent mothers and NAS.  This code should be used on 
the newborn record; not on the maternal record.  Approximate synonyms include neonatal drug 
withdrawal syndrome, maternal drug abuse and neonatal drug withdrawal syndrome, and 
neonatal withdrawal symptoms from maternal use of drugs of abuse. 
 
However, in addition to diagnosis code P96.1, there are more specific ICD-10-CM codes for 
infants that may be used concurrently and are related to the effects of maternal use of drugs of 
addiction.  These codes can be assigned for infants exhibiting some signs/symptoms but not 
experiencing withdrawal and include: 
 
                                                      
122 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification, 
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm#FY%202020%20release%20of%20ICD-10-CM 
123 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. Law 104-191 
124 ICD codes are updated annually and the most current version of the codes must be used. For more information on 
ICD coding, see  https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/index.html 
125 NAS describes neonates who are at-risk for poly-substance exposure including opioids. NAS has been used 
interchangeably by some with the term neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), which is used to describe 
opioid-only withdrawal symptoms.  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/neonatal-abstinence-syndrome/abstract-
text/29100261/pubmed cited by LM Jansson, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome,  
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/neonatal-abstinence-syndrome.  Also, Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome 
(NOWS) is not included in the language used in systematic collection of medical terms, i.e. the Systematized 
Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) http://www.snomed.org. 
 
33  ICD-10-CM  Description 
Diagnosis Code 
P04.14  Newborn affected by maternal use of opiates 
P04.16  Newborn affected by maternal use of amphetamines 
P04.1A  Newborn affected by maternal use of anxiolytics 
P04.40  Newborn affected by maternal use of unspecified drugs of addiction 
P04.41  Newborn affected by maternal use of cocaine 
P04.42  Newborn affected by maternal use of hallucinogens 
P04.49  Newborn affected by maternal use of other drugs of addiction 
P04.81  Newborn affected by maternal use of cannabis 
 
Conclusion 
 
CMS recognizes the challenges states are facing as they grapple with the ramifications of the 
opioid crisis, particularly as the crisis affects women and their children and families.  We 
encourage states to contact CMS to discuss potential new or novel approaches within existing 
Medicaid authorities that states envision may be helpful to their beneficiaries.  States interested 
in learning more on this topic and/or requesting technical assistance may contact Kirsten Jensen, 
Director, Division of Benefits and Coverage at Kirsten.Jensen@cms.hhs.gov. 
 
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