American Society of Addiction Medicine
American Society of Addiction Medicine
Lead: Prescriber-Level Changes in Buprenorphine Dispensing in the USA Before and After Federal Policy Changes Aimed at Increasing Prescribing
Lead: Prescriber-Level Changes in Buprenorphine Dispensing in the USA Before and After Federal Policy Changes Aimed at Increasing Prescribing
Lead: Prescriber-Level Changes in Buprenorphine Dispensing in the USA Before and After Federal Policy Changes Aimed at Increasing Prescribing
Tuesday 8th July 2025
Explore prescriber-level changes in buprenorphine dispensing after federal policy shifts in this insightful podcast episode.
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Get the buttons here!Buprenorphine Dispensing: The Impact of Policy Changes
Episode Overview
- Federal policy changes increased buprenorphine prescribers but decreased patient numbers per prescriber.
- Telehealth reduces odds of treatment discontinuation in early phases.
- Methadone maintenance therapy has higher retention rates than buprenorphine naloxone.
- Solitary drinking rates have increased among young adults over recent decades.
- Research gaps exist in stimulant use disorder management.
The elimination of the waiver requirement led to more prescribers but fewer patients per prescriber.
Ever wondered how federal policy changes impact the prescription of buprenorphine in the USA? This episode of 'This Week in Addiction Medicine' from ASAM dives into the nitty-gritty of prescriber-level changes after recent policy shifts. The episode unpacks a study from the Journal of General Internal Medicine that uses interrupted-time-series analysis to shed light on these trends.
With the elimination of the waiver requirement in December 2022, there was a noticeable spike in the number of prescribers, but surprisingly, a dip in the average number of patients and prescriptions per prescriber. Telehealth flexibilities and relaxed training requirements, on the other hand, didn't quite shake up the prescribing landscape as anticipated. But that's not all – there's more to chew on!
The episode also covers a retrospective cohort study examining the odds of buprenorphine discontinuation among patients with opioid use disorder. Telehealth emerges as a hero during early treatment phases, reducing odds of discontinuation, while hybrid care shines in later stages. For those juggling stimulant use, discontinuation odds remain high throughout. Moving on to methadone vs. buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment, the episode reveals intriguing findings from a secondary analysis.
Methadone maintenance therapy seems to keep folks in treatment longer than buprenorphine naloxone, although both treatments show similar rates of ongoing opioid use. The podcast also ventures into the world of alcohol use disorders, with studies on individual treatment responses and historical trends in solitary drinking among young adults. From genetically diverse rats to shifting patterns of drinking alone, these insights might just make you ponder the complexities of addiction treatment.
Whether you're an addiction medicine enthusiast or someone navigating recovery, this episode serves up a smorgasbord of studies and findings that could change how you view addiction treatment strategies. Why not give it a listen and see what catches your interest?