OUD Care Service Improvement with Prolonged-release Buprenorphine in Prisons: Cost Estimation Analysis

In prisons in England, integrated treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is accessible and effective, commonly based on daily supervised consumption of methadone. Treatment limitations (inadequate dosing, nonengagement with care, stigma, diversion and bullying) are noted. Flexible dose, injectable prolonged-release buprenorphine (PRB) which removes the need for daily dispensing and supervision is suggested for prisoner care. This work aimed to predict the difference in costs of current standard of care vs partial introduction of PRB.

A predictive model of compared costs for the provision of OUD care in the prison setting in England evaluated current standard of care (all receive methadone) with a future situation of 30% of prisoners electing to use a monthly dose of PRB. Evidence describing costs to deliver OUD care for 150 prisoners (pharmacotherapy, direct service, indirect health care, indirect security costs) were collected, including assumptions describing how care would be delivered. Evidence sources include national data sources, scientific literature and from experience in the prison health care setting.

For a representative standard prison population requiring OUD care of 150 prisoners in England PRB introduction is associated with a predicted reduction in direct and indirect costs of OUD care. Annual OUD care costs for current standard of care were £0.6M; with 30% PRB costs reduced by £8665, more than 3000 hours of staff time is saved. Sensitivity analyses showed greater adoption of PRB resulted in further cost reduction.

PRB can address limitations of OUD care in prisons and improve outcomes. Introduction does not increase cost of care in this predictive analysis. PRB may lead the transformation of prisoner OUD care.