Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This report describes the rates and characteristics of health center visits by adults with an opioid use disorder (OUD). Health centers provide primary care to health professional shortage areas. METHODS: Data are from the 2023 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) Health Center Component, a nationally representative survey of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), which receive federal funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and FQHC look-alikes, which meet HRSA requirements but do not receive HRSA funding. Weighting was conducted to account for sampling probabilities and nonresponse, resulting in nationally representative estimates of health center visits in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. KEY FINDINGS: The health center visit rate for adults with an OUD was 4.8 visits per 1,000 adults in 2023. Visit rates were highest among adults ages 25-49 (7.7) and lowest among adults ages 18-24 (0.8). An estimated 29.0% of health center visits by adults with an OUD also included a diagnosis of nicotine use disorder. Among health center visits by adults with an OUD, mood disorders and anxiety disorders were the two most frequently observed mental health disorders. An estimated 49.6% of health center visits by adults with an OUD had a documented prescription for buprenorphine.