FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
The American Academy of Family Physicians is encouraged by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ actions to remove burdensome regulatory requirements for prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). This revision will allow more family physicians who are certified to provide this important treatment in their offices.
The action is a positive first step in improving patient access to OUD treatment and lessening the stigma associated with medication-assisted treatment. The AAFP position paper on Chronic Pain Management and Opioid Misuse outlines the important role family physicians play in providing patient-centered care for both pain management and OUD, as well as the need to increase educational opportunities for physicians in training. We will continue to advocate for additional actions that will expand patient access to medication-assisted treatment and reduce regulatory hurdles that prevent family physicians from providing this lifesaving, evidence-based care.
Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with an AAFP spokesperson, contact Jennifer Schuler, 800-274-2237, Ext. 6255, or jschuler@aafp.org.
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About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 130,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine and the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, visit www.aafp.org. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.