Initiating Medications During Hospitalization and Strategies for Ensuring Linkage at Discharge for Patients With Opioid Use Disorder: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Hospitalization presents a critical opportunity to initiate medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and improve long-term outcomes for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). While inpatient MOUD initiation significantly reduces mortality and relapse, many patients lack appropriate follow-up care after discharge. This scoping review synthesizes evidence from 52 studies on hospital discharge practices for patients with OUD initiated on MOUD to identify best practices that support continued treatment and recovery. Inpatient addiction consultation services, standardized protocols, and clinician education emerged as key facilitators of MOUD initiation. Transitional care strategies, such as bridge clinics, peer navigation, telemedicine, and structured discharge planning, were associated with increased outpatient linkage, reduced readmissions, and improved retention in treatment. Despite policy advances including X-waiver elimination, systemic barriers persist and disproportionately affect rural and minoritized populations. Multidisciplinary, patient-centered discharge pathways that integrate medical treatment with social support are critical. Effective linkage strategies must address both structural and individual barriers to care. We propose six pillars of MOUD continuity, including early initiation, warm handoffs, peer support, bridge care models, telemedicine integration, and attention to social determinants. Implementing these strategies is essential to closing care gaps and improving outcomes in the evolving landscape of MOUD treatment.