Update: Buprenorphine Waiver for Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) (Public Law 114-198) extending the privilege of prescribing buprenorphine in office-based settings to qualifying nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) until Oct. 1, 2021. CARA requires that NPs complete 24 hours of training to be eligible for a prescribing waiver.

Samsha Medication Assisted Treatment Qualify Waivers

NPs and PAs must take the eight-hour DATA-waiver course for treatment of opioid use disorder. The course is offered for free by SAMHSA through the Providers’ Clinical Support System for Medication Assisted Treatment (PCSS-MAT)

In addition, NPS and PAs must take additional 16 hours of training. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) plans to offer free training.

SAMSHA also approved the following organizations to provide the required training:

• American Society of Addiction Medicine
• American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM)
• American Academy of Addiction Medicine  (AAAP)
• American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
• American Medical Association
• American Psychiatric Association (APA)
• The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
• The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)