HHS Finalizes Expanded Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

On January 31, the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) finalized a rule to expand access to opioid use disorder treatment to allow physicians to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder via telehealth without an in-person visit. ASA supports the efforts by this Administration to address the opioid crisis and improve patients’ access to treatment by the physician of their choice.  The rule will also allow providers more flexibility to offer take-home doses of methadone.  The final rule applies to certified opioid treatment programs but not to virtual prescribing of controlled substances more broadly.
 
ASA thanks HHS for removing these barriers for physicians treating patients with opioid use disorder.