{Reference Type}: Comparative Study
{Title}: 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?
{Author}: Qian J;Khatiwada AP;Xue X;
{Journal}: Am J Addict
{Volume}: 33
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: 2024 May 9
{Factor}: 3.86
{DOI}: 10.1111/ajad.13505
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>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.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>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.).<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>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.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Decrease in number of buprenorphine prescriptions in Medicaid population was observed in 2021.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>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.