Bringing healthcare providers across the District of Columbia the latest news, events, and resources to improve care for patients with substance use disorders and chronic pain management.
Hello Anna,
The Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) and Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Acts were passed in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) 2023 to expand access to and enhance substance use care across healthcare settings. According to SAMHSA and the DEA:
Effective immediately: The MAT Act removes the waiver requirement to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. “All practitioners who have a current DEA registration that includes Schedule III authority, may now prescribe buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder in their practice if permitted by applicable state law and SAMHSA encourages them to do so.”
Effective June 21, 2023: The MATE Act will require prescribers of controlled substances to complete an SUD training. “SAMHSA and DEA are actively working on implementation of a separate provision of the Omnibus related to training requirements for DEA registration.”
Physician-Delegated Unobserved Induction with Buprenorphine in Pharmacies
"In a pilot trial of pharmacy-based buprenorphine induction in Rhode Island, retention was substantially higher in a pharmacy-based follow-up buprenorphine treatment program than in usual care."
New ASRA Pain Recommendations for Cannabis Screening Before Surgery
These guidelines suggest screening all patients for cannabis use prior to surgery. Discussing cannabis use and substance use with patients in a nonjudgmental, factual way is crucial for effective care. Call DACS for support with patient-centered substance use screening.
