Adoption of ED-initiated buprenorphine for opioid use disorder has been slow despite evidence of its effectiveness. Implementation facilitation (IF) is an evidence-based implementation strategy to promote adoption of new practices within clinical settings. The Clinical Trials Network (CTN)-0069 Project ED Health” study evaluated whether provision of ED-initiated buprenorphine with referral for community-based medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) increased after IF. We identified the health system resources required to conduct IF and sustain ED-initiated buprenorphine with referral for community-based MOUD and then calculated the financial costs associated with using those resources.

We estimated costs using nationally representative employee values of the formative evaluation and other IF-related resources (e.g., focus groups, clinician education, and academic detailing), using microcosting analysis to capture quantitative data and assign nationally-representative costs based on Drug Abuse Treatment Cost Analysis Program (DATCAP). The study data was collected from 2017 to 2020 from four sites. We calculated costs per site for three distinct phases: pre-implementation, IF, and sustainment.

The mean, per-site, costs were: pre-implementation = $27,753 (range: $25,859$27,821), IF = $53,558 (range: $48,417–$59,468) and annual sustainment = $226,822(range: $104,871–$339,100), which resulted in a mean per-patient cost of $115 assuming an average of 195 patients identified with untreated OUD, per-month, across sites.

The microcosting analysis revealed the resources and costs involved in implementing ED-initiated buprenorphine programs at various sites. Understanding the different ways each site customized the IF strategy can improve adoption to this initiative. Interpreting the costs during the intervention and what it takes to sustain it will help decision makers address uncertainty and promote increased acceptance of implementing these practices in the context of potential benefits that this approach can provide.