Treatment of opioid use disorder
Access expanded for medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder A new rule finalized Tuesday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration increases the number of patients health care providers can treat with buprenorphine, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia M. Burwell said. Buprenorphine is a medication to treat opioid use disorder, similar to methadone. This rule change supplements the opioid initiative launched by HHS in March 2015. The initiative focused on three priorities, including expanded access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. According to Burwell, congressional approval of President Obama's request for $1.1 billion in federal budget funds to support the initiative and fight the nationwide prescription opioid and heroin epidemic is "critical."