A proposed rule from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) focuses on increasing access to treatment for opioid use disorder and updating outdated definitions and standards of treatment in opioid treatment programs.
The rule will make permanent a COVID-19 public health emergency flexibility to allow providers to initiate buprenorphine prescriptions for new patients through telehealth. Previously, rules required an in-person medical evaluation before a patient could be prescribed buprenorphine. Further, SAMHSA proposes to eliminate reporting requirements for practitioners who have a waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for up to 275 patients.
Comments are due Feb. 14, 2023.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
