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February 15, 2023

DATA Waiver not required for treating OUD

As of Jan. 12, 2023, the federal government no longer requires health care professionals to process a DATA Waiver (X-Waiver) to prescribe buprenorphine and other drugs for treating opioid use disorder (OUD).

What this means for you

As a health care professional, if you have a current DEA registration with Schedule III authority, you may prescribe buprenorphine for treatment, if permissible by applicable state law, with no limits on the number of patients treated.

Evidence-based treatment

Professional organizations, such as the American Medical Association, recommend the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and support removal of the X-Waiver. We encourage health care professionals with DEA-prescribing authority to proactively identify OUD in members and treat them using evidence-based treatment protocols and as permitted by your state licensing board.

Learn more

The following resources can help you identify and treat members with OUD in your practice:

Questions?

Contact your provider advocate for information on how we can support your practice.

PCA-1-23-00333-C&S-News_02102023
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