In January 2023 the DEA and SAMSHA announced elimination of the X-waiver as a requirement to prescribe Suboxone (buprenorphine/ naloxone) for opioid use disorder which presented an opportunity to reduce one barrier to treatment, access to X-waivered providers, among patients at a suburban community health center. This project looked at the willingness of primary care providers not previously X-waivered to begin prescribing Suboxone for patients on a stable dose before and after a peer-led training. It further assessed if there was a difference in willingness to prescribe buprenorphine for chronic pain vs opioid use disorder. Prior to the training, 60% of providers indicated they were likely to prescribe buprenorphine for an indication of chronic pain or opioid use disorder and 40% of providers responded they were not likely to prescribe for either indication. After a one-hour peer training and the creation of a reference guide the number of providers likely to prescribe for an indication of chronic pain was 71% while the percentage likely to prescribe for opioid use disorder was 57%. Those not likely to prescribe for chronic pain dropped to 28%, but the number not likely to prescribe for opioid use disorder remained nearly the same at 43%. During the three months between the peer training and data collection one provider began sending Suboxone prescriptions for a patient with opioid use disorder. In the post-training survey, a question was asked about the new DEA license renewal requirement to complete 8 hours of education on substance use disorders which started in June 2023. Out of the two providers who completed the new requirement one felt it increased their willingness to prescribe MAT and one reported it had no effect.

Publish Date: 
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Cohort: 
First name: 
Dawnell
Last name: 
Moody
Professional Title: 
DO, MPH