HHS releases new buprenorphine practice guidance

HHS has announced the release of new Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder, which exempts eligible physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and certified nurse midwives from federal certification requirements related to training, counseling and other ancillary services that are part of the process for obtaining a waiver to treat up to 30 patients with buprenorphine." Eligible practitioners will still need to apply for the X waiver but are now exempt from certification requirements related to the training and provision of psychosocial services.