Email UpdatesTo support the expansion of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently posted a joint letter from the DEA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In it, they note the passage of the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act which could significantly increase the number of practitioners who can prescribe schedule III MOUD products for patients with opioid use disorder, because all practitioners who have a current DEA registration including Schedule III authority may now prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in their practice if permitted by applicable state law. The DEA and HHS call for safe and ready access to MOUD, especially in rural or underserved areas, supporting collaboration among all DEA registrants to ensure there is an adequate and uninterrupted supply of MOUD products when appropriately prescribed.
The Integration Academy recently published a Topic Brief on The Role of Low-Threshold Treatment for Patients with OUD in Primary Care. The Academy also provides a Playbook on medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and the Substance Use Tools & Resources Collection, which includes many items related to MOUD. The Academy Literature Collection includes references on both Healthcare Policy and Opioids & Substance Use. For information on DEA-registered manufacturer or distributor limitations on ordering or dispensing controlled substances, including MOUD, see the DEA Guidance Document on this topic.