End of Buprenorphine X-Waiver

After almost twenty years of intense medication specific government regulation buprenorphine is now just like other schedule III medications. The era of limited numbers of treatment slots that started at 30 patients per provider who had completed 8 hours of specific training, requirements to maintain lists of patients who received prescriptions and even in person visits by DEA agents to a large percentage of prescribers in the US is over. Our Government can make changes that help patients and providers, but not without the strong advocacy of ASAM and CSAM members like you.

Matthew Torrington, MD, Chair of CSAM's Opioid Committee

Section 1262 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (also known as Omnibus bill), removes the federal requirement for practitioners to submit a Notice of Intent (have a waiver) to prescribe medications, like buprenorphine, for the treatment of opioid use...

Yes, it is truly the end to waiver requirements for buprenorphine prescribing, and that hopefully with emerging studies on the safety of buprenorphine with greater access during the pandemic, more providers will be willing to at least maintain patients if not initiate buprenorphine. However, we still believe promoting education in addiction medicine is still critical along the entire spectrum of medical education, from medical school through CME.

Chwen-Yuen Angie Chen, MD, Editor CSAM News