Table 3 Changes to treatment for opioid use disorder, telemedicine services, referral and release planning among EXIT-CJS carceral sites (n = 6) during the post-COVID-19 period (April–September 2020)
| Â | Increased | No noticeable change | Decreased |
n (%) | |||
Treatment for opioid use disorder, n (%) | |||
 Before and after COVID-19, has your facility/organization had changes in the: | |||
  Number of persons screened for opioid use disorder | 0 (0%) | 3 (50.0%) | 3 (50.0%) |
 Since COVID-19, has your facility has any changes in the: | |||
  Number of providers waivered to prescribe buprenorphine | 1 (16.7%) | 5 (83.3%) | 0 (0%) |
  Demand for MOUD | 1 (16.7%) | 4 (66.7%) | 1 (16.7%) |
 Of those receiving MOUD for maintenance, how did the number of persons receiving methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone change in the months before and after COVID-19? | |||
  Methadonea | 1 (25.0%) | 3 (75.0%) | 0 (0%) |
  Sublingual buprenorphine or buprenorphine/naloxonea | 2 (33.3%) | 1 (16.7%) | 3 (50.0%) |
  Extended-release buprenorphinea | 1 (33.3%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (66.7%) |
  Extended-release naltrexonea | 0 (0%) | 3 (75.0%) | 1 (25.0%) |
 How did the number of incarcerated/detained persons entering on MOUD, continued on MOUD, and tapered off MOUD changed within your facility/organization? | |||
  Entering facility on MOUD | 1 (16.7%) | 4 (66.7%) | 1 (16.7%) |
  Continued on MOUD | 1 (16.7%) | 5 (83.3%) | 0 (0%) |
  Tapered off MOUD prior to release | 0 (0%) | 5 (83.3%) | 1 (16.7%) |
 How did the number of incarcerated/detained persons being inducted onto MOUD in your facility/organization change? | |||
  Total number of persons inducted on MOUD | 3 (50.0%) | 1 (16.7%) | 2 (33.3%) |
  Number started for withdrawal management only | 1 (16.7%) | 5 (83.3%) | 0 (0%) |
  Number started for maintenance | 2 (33.3%) | 3 (50.0%) | 1 (16.7%) |
 In the months before and after COVID-19, did your organization have changes in the number of incarcerated/detained persons released: | |||
  On MOUD without a referral? | 1 (16.7%) | 4 (66.7%) | 1 (16.7%) |
  Not on MOUD, but with a referral to community treatment for MOUD? | 0 (0%) | 5 (83.3%) | 1 (16.7%) |
  On MOUD and referred to community treatment? | 2 (33.3%) | 3 (50.0%) | 1 (16.7%) |
Changes to telemedicine use, n (%) | |||
| Â | Increased | No noticeable change | Decreased |
Since COVID-19, has your facilityb had any changes in use of telemedicine for: | |||
 All health conditions | 4 (80.0%) | 1 (20.0%) | 0 (0%) |
 MOUD | 3 (60.0%) | 2 (40.0%) | 0 (0%) |
Use of technology/methods by incarcerated/detained persons to participate in substance use treatment | |||
 Computers | 3 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
 Tablets | 3 (75.0%) | 1 (25.0%) | 0 (0%) |
 Portable kiosks | 0 (0%) | 1 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
 Kiosks | 0 (0%) | 1 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
 Cell phones | 1 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
 Video calls | 2 (50.0%) | 2 (50.0%) | 0 (0%) |
 Other applications or software programs | 1 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
Changes to re-entry support and post-release referral practices, n (%) | |||
| Â | Increased | No noticeable change | Decreased |
In the month prior to release, how has COVID-19 impacted your facility/organization’s ability to: | |||
 Schedule appointments with MOUD providers in the community | 1 (16.7%) | 2 (33.3%) | 3 (50.0%) |
 Provide assistance completing intake paperwork for MOUD providers in the community | 1 (16.7%) | 2 (33.3%) | 3 (50.0%) |
 Facilitate exchange of key information with MOUD providers in the community | 1 (16.7%) | 4 (66.7%) | 1 (16.7%) |
 Provide incarcerated/detained persons with the name(s) of MOUD providers in the community | 2 (33.3%) | 3 (50.0%) | 1 (16.7%) |
 Coordinate MOUD services with probation/parolec | 1 (20.0%) | 3 (60.0%) | 1 (20.0%) |
 Assist with reactivating and/or applying for Medicaid, Veterans benefits or other types of insurance for payment of MOUD | 0 (0%) | 6 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
 Connect incarcerated/detained persons to a peer mentor/navigator/recovery coach?c | 2 (40.0%) | 2 (40.0%) | 1 (20.0%) |
 Provide or arrange transportation to MOUD provider in the community | 0 (0%) | 2 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
 Provide a bridge supply of MOUDc | 0 (0%) | 2 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
 Provide a written prescription for MOUDc | 1 (25.0%) | 3 (75.0%) | 0 (0%) |
Since COVID-19, how has your facility/organization’s provision of naloxone kits at release changed? | 2 (33.3%) | 4 (66.7%) | 0 (0%) |
Post-release, how has COVID-19 impacted your facility/organization’s ability to: | |||
 Locate housing for incarcerated/detained persons in the community | 0 (0%) | 2 (33.3%) | 4 (66.7%) |
 Help incarcerated/detained persons find employment in the community | 0 (0%) | 2 (33.3%) | 4 (66.7%) |
 Provide transportation home for incarcerated/detained persons | 0 (0%) | 5 (83.3%) | 1 (16.7%) |