Prescribing Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Just Got Easier

Prescribing Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Just Got Easier

Maryland’s healthcare teams, with support from the Maryland Department of Health, play a crucial role in tackling the opioid crisis by offering access to buprenorphine. Buprenorphine, a proven treatment for opioid use disorder, is an important tool for preventing overdose. Despite the overwhelming evidence for buprenorphine’s effectiveness, this treatment has been underutilized. Recent legislation removed the waiver requirement for buprenorphine prescribing to broaden access to treatment.

Effective December 29, 2022, the DATA 2000 waiver is no longer required to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. Only a DEA number is needed. The removal of the x-waiver makes it easier for prescribers to provide life-saving treatment for opioid use disorder. This legislative change, coupled with free services from the Maryland Addiction Consultation Service, can empower healthcare providers to take action in addressing the crisis. MACS supports providers and their teams with providing buprenorphine and other services for substance use care.

In this video, MACS consultants and addiction medicine experts, Drs. Sarah Kattakuzhy and Michael Fingerhood share how MACS can support healthcare practitioners and their practices in providing buprenorphine and other office-based services for substance use disorders. For more information, visit www.marylandmacs.org’/Provider-Support/.