New Provider Training Requirements for Substance Use Disorder To Increase Treatment Access

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in close collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), recently announced new training requirements for practitioners with prescriptive authority treating substance use disorder (SUD). Completion of 8 hours of training in SUDs and the use of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medications are now required by new and renewing DEA registrants to treat SUDs. 

These new training requirements eliminate the DATA waiver that was previously needed to prescribe buprenorphine and expands the number of DEA-registered practitioners who can treat people with opioid use disorder (OUD) to almost 1.9 million. This change in legislation aims to increase access to evidence-based interventions and subsequently reduce opioid overdose and death in the United States. For more information on this new legislation, see SAMHSA’s Training Requirements (MATE Act) Resources. 

The Integration Academy offers a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder Playbook that provides practical guidance for implementing MAT in primary care and other ambulatory care settings. Additionally, the Academy offers a robust library of substance use tools and resources for providers, staff and patients who offer or use these services.