Elimination of DATA X Waiver to prescribe buprenorphine

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently announced the elimination of the requirement for prescribers to have a DATA 2000 (X) waiver to prescribe buprenorphine.

What does this mean for providers?

Effective immediately, all practitioners with a DEA registration that includes Schedule III authority can now prescribe medications for opioid use disorder as they would any other medication.

There are no medication-specific training requirements and no limits on the number of patients receiving prescriptions.

Resources

Read the DEA announcement and visit the SAMHSA and Health Care Authority (HCA) webpages related to this change:

If you have not prescribed buprenorphine products and would like additional education, there are many resources available to support safe and effective treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) with medication.

Prescribing providers can also ask questions to Washington professional commissions for prescribers, including:

Contact

Email Liz Wolkin for more information.