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Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act
3/14/2024, 4:05 AM
Summary of Bill HR 1359
One key provision of the bill is the expansion of the types of healthcare providers who are able to prescribe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction. Currently, only physicians are allowed to prescribe these medications, but this bill would allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to also prescribe MAT. This change is aimed at increasing the availability of treatment options for those in need.
Additionally, the bill seeks to remove certain barriers that currently exist for individuals seeking treatment for opioid addiction. One such barrier is the requirement for patients to receive an in-person medical evaluation before being prescribed MAT. This bill would allow for telehealth services to be used for these evaluations, making it easier for individuals in rural or underserved areas to access treatment. Overall, the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act is focused on expanding access to treatment for opioid addiction and removing barriers that may prevent individuals from receiving the care they need. By allowing more healthcare providers to prescribe MAT and utilizing telehealth services for evaluations, this bill aims to improve outcomes for those struggling with opioid addiction.
Congressional Summary of HR 1359
Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act
This bill expands access to methadone for an individual's unsupervised use to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). (Typically, methadone must be dispensed to individuals in person through opioid treatment programs.)
The bill (1) waives provisions of the Controlled Substances Act that require qualified practitioners to obtain a separate registration from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe and dispense methadone to treat OUD, and (2) requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the DEA to jointly report on the waiver.
Additionally, the bill directs the DEA to register certain practitioners to prescribe methadone that is dispensed through a pharmacy for an individual's unsupervised use. Qualified practitioners must be licensed or authorized to prescribe controlled substances, and they must either work for an opioid treatment program or be a physician or psychiatrist with a specialty certification in addiction medicine. A state may request that the DEA stop registering such practitioners in its jurisdiction.
Individuals who receive methadone for unsupervised use must continue to have access to other care through an opioid treatment program.
For purposes of the waiver, the bill also requires the exclusive use of electronic prescribing, establishes prescription limits, and sets out requirements for informed consent. Further, the bill permits the use of telehealth to provide methadone treatment and related services if the state and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly determine the use is feasible and appropriate.
