HHS proposes raising physician prescribing limit for opioid treatment

Mar 29, 2016 - 03:50 PM

The Department of Health and Human Services today issued a  that would double the number of patients a qualified physician may treat with buprenorphine. The controlled substance is one of three drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medication-assisted treatment of opioid dependence. According to an HHS , the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration rule would allow qualified practitioners to request approval to treat up to 200 patients a year if they have maintained an active waiver to treat up to 100 patients for a year and have subspecialty board certification in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry, or practice in a qualified practice setting as defined in the rule. In addition, they would have to reaffirm their eligibility every three years; attest that they will adhere to evidence-based treatment guidelines; and provide or connect patients to necessary behavioral health services; among other conditions. The rule also would allow practitioners with a 100-patient limit to request to serve up to 200 patients for up to six months in an emergency. 

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