Pressed On Audio-Only Buprenorphine, SAMSHA Eyes Permanent Regs

Lawmakers are calling on the Drug Enforcement Administration and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to make permanent a pandemic flexibility that has allowed initiation of the opioid disorder use treatment buprenorphine via audio-only telehealth -- a move SAMHSA signaled Thursday (Oct. 20) the two agencies are considering as part of potential rules allowing permanent use of telehealth to treat opioid use disorder. Reps. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) sent a letter Oct. 14 requesting the...