ASRA is one of 16 organizations that have signed on to a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging adoption of its January 14th "Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder," which would eliminate obstacles preventing physicians from prescribing the potentially life-saving drug.

Studies have shown demonstrated benefits of buprenorphine in helping patients overcome opioid use disorder. However, it can only be prescribed by physicians who have taken an 8-hour course and received a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The new HHS guidelines would have eased these requirements.

With the new administration taking office January 20th, this guideline was among several pieces of legislation that were put on hold for further evaluation.

The letter acknowledges the need to review regulatory actions taken in the last few weeks of the previous administration but urges that this particular piece move forward. The guidelines also call for the creation of an interagency working group to monitor implementation.

Read the letter here.