Examining The Effects of Expanding The Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit
The Department of Health Policy recently prepared an evaluation report for the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) that examined the effects of the expanded Medicaid Adult Dental Benefit on Emergency Department utilization in Virginia hospitals for non-traumatic dental visits. Presented to DMAS in March 2025, the report was authored by Department of Health […]
Considering the neighborhood context: The relationship between food and housing insecurity and healthcare use among Virginia Medicaid expansion members
For a new article published by Health Services Research, several VCU Department of Health Policy faculty members, students, and alums collaborated with other faculty from the VCU School Of Public Health and several officials from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to examine the relationships between healthcare use and food and housing insecurity […]
Study Indicates Positive Outcomes for New Approach to Medicare/Medicaid Dual Enrollment
By Annie Powell, W&M Arts & Sciences News Navigating the complexity of either Medicare or Medicaid is challenging. Those challenges are compounded for people enrolled in both programs. A team of researchers from William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University and the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services studied the potential benefits of integrating care for dually […]
Substance use disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated among formerly incarcerated Virginians, new VCU-led study finds
Research collaboration with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services highlights health disparities affecting Medicaid members with addiction – and some of the barriers they face. By Olivia Trani People recently released from prison experience some of the highest rates of substance use disorder, but they are also the least likely to have access to providers […]
A Snapshot of Project DREAM (Doula Research for Equitable Advances in Medicaid Pregnancy Health)
Department of Health Policy faculty Dr. Andrew Barnes, Dr. Peter Cunningham, and Dr. Anika Hines join AcademyHealth and University of Pittsburgh to leverage an innovative distributed research network to advance racial equity in severe maternal morbidity and improve pregnancy and postpartum health outcomes in Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities.
Addictions and contradictions
Access to substance abuse treatment has expanded in Virginia, yet overdose deaths continue to rise By Tharon Giddens The impact of overdose deaths in the commonwealth is chronicled in reports from the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office of the Virginia Department of Health. A report updated in July projects another record year of overdose deaths in Virginia. First Quarter […]
Report: Virginia has significantly expanded access to treatment services through Medicaid
Participation in Virginia’s Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services benefit increased 79% between 2018 and 2019, according to a new report led by VCU researchers. (Getty Images) VCU researchers report a 79% increase in Virginia Medicaid members receiving services between 2018 and 2019 — a result of both Medicaid expansion and an increase in treatment services […]
