Federal agencies move to lower barriers for people seeking treatment for opioid use disorder
Effective immediately, all providers can prescribe medication products containing buprenorphine without limits.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have eliminated the requirement for medical providers to have a DATA 2000 (X) waiver to prescribe medication with buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder.
This change aims to reduce prescribing barriers for providers and increase access to buprenorphine medications for people seeking treatment for opioid use disorder.
What does this mean for providers?
- If a provider has a current DEA registration number that includes Schedule III authority, effective immediately they may now prescribe buprenorphine formulations for opioid use disorder.
- There are no longer limits on the number of patients a prescriber can treat for opioid use disorder with buprenorphine.
- There are no medication-specific training requirements at this time.
- With this provision, waiver applications from SAMHSA are no longer needed.
Resources
If providers have not prescribed buprenorphine or Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) and would like more education, here are some resources:
- Providers Clinical Support System
- Learn About Treatment
- American College of Emergency Physicians
- University of Washington Consultation Line (877-927-7924)
Prescribing providers can also ask questions to Washington professional commissions for prescribers, including:
For any additional questions, email Institutional ‘Overdose Data to Action’ Nurse Consultant Hannah Carmichael.