Rockville, MD (Nov. 15, 2024) – In response to today’s rule enabling a third temporary extension of COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities for initiating controlled medications, including buprenorphine, a lifesaving treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), Brian Hurley, MD, President of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), issued the following statement: 

“This extension of telemedicine flexibilities for initiating opioid use disorder treatment with buprenorphine ensures clinicians can temporarily continue providing this urgently needed, lifesaving care. ASAM thanks Reps. Annie Kuster, Carol Miller, and their colleagues for championing this matter by issuing a letter imploring the preservation of this flexibility for buprenorphine. However, the Biden administration’s temporary action is not enough.  

More decisive action is warranted to save more lives. Specifically, ASAM calls for issuance of the final, non-special registration, telemedicine rule for buprenorphine or passage of the TREATS Act (H.R. 5163 / S. 3193), which would permanently preserve existing telemedicine evaluation exceptions to the Ryan Haight Act’s in-person exam requirement for initiating Schedule III-V medications approved for addiction, including buprenorphine. In addition, ASAM continues to urge this Congress to pass the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act (MOTAA) (H.R. 1359 / S. 644), which would create a special registration allowing addiction specialist physicians to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder.” 

More than 125 organizations have submitted a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to pass MOTAA before the 118th Congress concludes. 

This third temporary extension was filed today and is scheduled to be published on November 19, 2024. 

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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.