New federal guidance announced on Jan. 15, 2021, by the Trump administration will allow most physicians to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder without a waiver. The move by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) eliminates the eight-hour “X-waiver” course physicians were required to complete by the Drug Enforcement Agency before prescribing buprenorphine treatment. Physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other approved advanced practice nurses will still need to obtain an X waiver before prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder. For additional information, visit HMA Institute on Addiction at https://hmaioa.com/.
