HHS released updated Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder.
The updated guidelines provide eligible physicians and other qualified clinicians who are state licensed and registered by the DEA to prescribe controlled substances, an exemption from certain statutory certification requirements related to training, counseling, and other ancillary services. Specifically, the exemption allows these practitioners to treat up to 30 patients with OUD using buprenorphine without having to make certain training related certifications.
This exemption also allows practitioners to treat patients with buprenorphine without certifying as to their capacity to provide counseling and ancillary services. Providers are still required to submit an application designated as a “Notice of Intent” in order to prescribe buprenorphine for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder.