New Guidelines for Buprenorphine

Due to the opioid epidemic and public health crisis, opioid use disorder treatment is greatly needed. In an effort to make the use of buprenorphine easier, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to no longer require an X-waiver for prescriptions. By deregulating buprenorphine, effective treatment for opioid use disorder may be mainstreamed. In its Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder, the HHS will “eliminate the requirement that physicians with a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number apply for a separate waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment.”

The X-waiver came out of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000. It was passed by Congress, and required physicians to meet qualifications in order to prescribe buprenorphine in their clinic offices. At the time, the Act expanded access to treatment. Now, however, it makes it hard for those who need help to get it. Now, an interagency working group will meet at least twice a year “to monitor the implementation and results of these practice guidelines, as well as the impact on diversion.”

 

Read the guidelines.

For more information, click here.

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• pain policy