Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Primary Care Physicians (PCPs)
8/20/2024
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Posted by Provider Relations
Did you know that all practitioners holding a standard DEA registration for the prescription of controlled substances can now prescribe buprenorphine for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder? There are no limitations on the number of patients who can be treated, and there is no special training required beyond the 8 hours necessary to obtain or maintain a DEA registration. This marks a pivotal shift addiction treatment, bringing crucial resources to the frontline of healthcare.
Primary care physicians (PCPs) can often be the first point of contact for individuals seeking medical attention. Now with the ability to prescribe medication assisted treatments (MAT) such as buprenorphine, PCPs can offer immediate and integrated care to their patients while also reducing barriers to treatment. This change could be especially beneficial in rural or underserved areas where specialized addiction treatment is not readily accessible. Holistic incorporation of MAT into the patient’s ongoing medical care allows for continuous monitoring of the patient’s health while addressing co-occurring conditions.
Telemedicine (both audio-only and audio-video) can be used both to initiate and to maintain a patient on buprenorphine.
Recent studies acknowledge that PCPs can be reluctant to utilize MAT due to insufficient resources, training, inadequate knowledge, and other institutional/ environmental factors (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2024). To bridge this barrier, there are many resources available for training and support.
These resources provide informational materials and on-demand training including mentorship:
PROVIDERS’ CLINICAL SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR OPIOID THERAPIES www.pcss-o.org. This SAMHSA-funded initiative developed by a wide coalition of professional physician organizations offers free evidence-based educational resources ranging from on-line modules and webinars to one-on-one mentoring and small group discussions.
Practical Tools for Prescribing and promoting Buprenorphine in Primary Care Settings: https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep21-06-01-002.pdf
Providers Clinical Support System: https://www.samhsa.gov/providers-clinical-support-system-pcss
Waiver Elimination Resource: https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/waiver-elimination-mat-act
NYS Dept of Health Letter to Practitioners: https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/narcotic/docs/2023-01-20_mat_act_commissioner_letter.pdf
Practitioner Training: https://www.samhsa.gov/practitioner-training Links to SAMHSA's practitioner training modules, offering tools, training, and technical assistance to practitioners in the fields of mental health and substance use disorders.