ASAM Applauds Release of Proposed Updates to Federal Rules to Expand Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Statement attributable to Brian Hurley, MD, president-elect of ASAM:

“The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) applauds today’s proposal by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to expand access to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), in particular with methadone through opioid treatment programs (OTPs).  The proposed changes will provide greater autonomy to OTP practitioners, as well as expand on telehealth and take-home flexibilities initially granted in connection with the nation’s COVID-19 public health emergency.  Several proposals are aligned with recommendations in ASAM’s 2021 Public Policy Statement on Regulation of the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder with Methadone.  In the spirit of these proposed rules, now is the time for Congress to build on these regulatory efforts by creating a new statutory pathway that would allow addiction specialist physicians to prescribe methadone for OUD treatment that can be picked up from pharmacies, subject to take-home rules or guidance to be set by SAMHSA.”

###

About the American Society of Addiction Medicine   

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), founded in 1954, is a professional medical society representing over 7,000 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction. For more information, visit www.ASAM.org.  

Media Contact  

Rebecca Reid 

410-212-3843  rreid@schmidtpa.com