Buprenorphine, methadone treatment now permanently available via telehealth

Key takeaways:

• The new HHS rule permanently allows patients to begin treatment with buprenorphine via telehealth.
• The rule also allows more flexibility related to take-home methadone doses, reducing clinic visits.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration issued a final rule that permanently allows patients to be prescribed buprenorphine via telehealth, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced in a press release.

The new rule, which stems from temporary provisions put into place during the COVID-19 public health emergency, allows patients to receive treatment via audiovisual or audio-only technology, the release stated.

In addition, the update allows for more flexibility in methadone treatment, which also will be available through audiovisual technology, eliminating the previous requirement of daily clinic visits. Under the new rule, patients will be able to receive up to 7 days of take-home doses during the first 2 weeks of treatment, up to 14 days of doses on day 15 and up to 28 days of doses on day 31.

According to the release, the rule — the first substantial update to HHS opioid treatment program (OTP) regulations in 20 years — goes into effect on April 2, with a compliance deadline of Oct. 2.

“This final rule represents a historic modernization of OTP regulations to help connect more Americans with effective treatment for opioid use disorders,” Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, HHS assistant secretary for mental health and substance use, said in the release. “While this rule change will help anyone needing treatment, it will be particularly impactful for those in rural areas or with low income for whom reliable transportation can be a challenge, if not impossible. In short, this update will help those most in need.”

The rule also expands patient access to treatment while waiting for more comprehensive services and removes the requirement that patients must have a 1-year history of opioid use disorder to be eligible for treatment.

Reference:

• Federal government makes telehealth buprenorphine prescribing permanent. https://alert.psychnews.org/2024/02/federal-government-makes-telehealth.html. Published Feb. 8, 2024. Accessed Feb. 13, 2024.