Dive Brief:
- As the U.S. responds to the crisis of opioid addiction, it faces the fact that less than half of the 2.2 million people in need of treatment are actually getting it, The Pew Charitable Trusts quoted HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell.
- The publication notes two major factors that stand in the way: A nationwide shortage of physicians who are able to prescribe the addiction treatmnt drug buprenorphine and legal limitations on how many patients those prescribing doctors are allowed to treat.
- Those issues could see solutions if President Obama gets his requested $1.1 billion that would increase the availability of opioid-addiction medications, and if HHS makes an expected move to increase the number of patients physicians are allowed to treat for addiction.
Dive Insight:
The rules that currently limit physicians' ability to treat addiction were well-intentioned but appear out of place in a time when tens of thousands of people are dying each year from opioid and heroin addiction-related incidents, some experts argue.
While physicians are able to prescribe opioids just by joining a federal registry, they must complete a eight-hour training course and apply for a license to prescribe buprenorphine. Compounding the issue is the fact existing prescribing physicians are limited in the number of patients they treat to avoid the possibility of creating "pill mills."
Opponents argue the unique rules around buprenorphine not only inhibit patient recovery, but perpetuate prejudice against addiction treatment. One possible solution may come through federal legislation under consideration -- the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT Act) -- to enable nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe the drug.
Meanwhile, Sen. Elizabeth Warren has made some waves by requesting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigate the possibility of using of medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids for pain management in order to reduce opioid prescriptions.