Did the 2021 federal change in the practice guidelines for the administration of buprenorphine for treating opioid use disorder increase buprenorphine prescription dispensing in Medicaid population?
Jingjing Qian, Asmita P. Khatiwada, Xiangzhong Xue- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
Abstract
Background and Objectives
In April 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services released new federal practice guidelines and allowed physicians who wish to treat ≤30 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) to forego the X‐waiver training requirement.
Methods
This observational study compared annual number, dose, and spending of buprenorphine OUD treatments dispensed in the Medicaid population in 2021 versus 2020 using the CMS State Drug Utilization Data (n = 50 states plus D.C.).
Results
Compared to 2020, there was a slight decrease (−3.1%) in the annual number of buprenorphine prescriptions dispensed but an increase in total doses (+3.2%) and payment (10.6%) for buprenorphine prescriptions in 2021.
Discussion and Conclusions
Decrease in number of buprenorphine prescriptions in Medicaid population was observed in 2021.
Scientific Significance
Our findings support the hypothesis generation in which the removal of X‐waiver training alone is not adequate to increase prescribing and access to OUD treatment buprenorphine.