Ordinarily, this act mandates an in-person visit prior to the prescription of controlled substances, although exceptions are permitted during a Public Health Emergency (PHE). This modification was largely due to the temporary relaxation of provisions within the Ryan Haight Act of 2008. In response to the pandemic, it became possible to initiate buprenorphine treatment via telehealth without the necessity of an in-person visit, resulting in a shift in access. Access to Buprenorphine Medication via Telehealth Guidance to leverage Medicaid for pre- and post-release from prison access to OUD treatment servicesġ.Changes in access to opioid overdose prevention and reversal methods.Changes to provider regulations for the prescribing of buprenorphine.Access to buprenorphine medication via telehealth.In this brief, we examine the following 5 key federal policies and implications for access and treatment for OUD: Some of these policy adjustments are permanent, while others could revert to pre-pandemic regulations. Buprenorphine can be prescribed and picked up from a pharmacy, while methadone must be dispensed through licensed opioid treatment programs.įederal policies governing substance use disorder treatment have undergone rapid changes during the pandemic however, the extent to which these changes can address the surge in opioid overdose deaths is unclear. Buprenorphine and methadone, both controlled substances, have unique administration requirements. Yet, approximately 75% of people with OUD do not receive the recommended treatment, and treatment rates are generally lower among people of color and adolescents.Ĭurrently, three medications are approved for OUD treatment: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Policy efforts have focused on enhancing access to medications for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment, which can substantially reduce overdose and mortality rates. Rises in overdose deaths have been particularly sharp among people of color and young people. By 2021, these deaths accounted for 75% of all fatal drug overdoses, up from 66% in 2016. From 2016 to 2021, opioid overdose deaths nearly doubled, from 42,249 to 80,411. Opioid overdose deaths, primarily driven by fentanyl, have surged during the pandemic, exposing significant gaps in access to and availability of treatment.
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