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The opioid overdose epidemic has led to a call by some to raise the 100-patient cap on buprenorphine, which can be dispensed and prescribed by office-based physicians. Even before Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts proposed a bill in July allowing physicians to treat an “unlimited” number of patients with buprenorphine, the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid … [Read more...] about AATOD Policy Paper: Raising Buprenorphine Patient Cap Could Hurt Patient Care

The long process of reviewing 42 CFR Part 2, the regulation that governs confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse treatment records, is underway. The law and regulation date from the 1970s, and prohibit any substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provider receiving federal funds from disclosing the identity of any patient without the written consent—on paper—of the patient. It … [Read more...] about Changes in Confidentiality Regulations Would Hurt Opioid Treatment Program Patients, Damage Privacy

Michael Botticelli, acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and a longtime friend of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), dating from his years heading the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, gave AT Forum an exclusive interview this summer on how opioid treatment programs (OTPs) effectively treat their patients who have opioid use … [Read more...] about ONDCP’s Michael Botticelli on the Importance of OTPs in Treating Opioid Use Disorders

There are big changes coming up for opioid treatment programs (OTPs) and other substance use disorder (SUD) programs in New York State. Starting next year, the longstanding fee-for-service Medicaid reimbursement system will be replaced by managed care; also starting next year, new insurance legislation to protect SUD patients is expected to be enacted. Henry Bartlett, … [Read more...] about Medicaid Managed Care, New Insurance Rules Coming to New York Opioid Treatment Programs

The sharp rise in heroin use and prescription opioid abuse in recent years underscores the need for effective treatment for opioid addiction. Yet previous studies have shown that most methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programs—the primary treatment for opioid use disorders—haven’t provided doses that meet evidence-based standards, 80 mg/day and above. Evidence-based … [Read more...] about Research Report: Dosage Trends in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs: Significant Improvement, But Still Below Evidence-Based Standards