MISAM Supports Changes to Pharmacy Controlled Substance Rules

On September 9^th, the Michigan Society of Addiction Medicine (MISAM) submitted a comment  letter to the Michigan Bureau of Professional Licensing in support of  proposed changes to the pharmacy controlled substances rules of the  Drug Treatment Prescriber Program. These revisions would eliminate burdensome requirements on the licensing of controlled substances and bring the state rules into closer alignment with federal standards.

In the letter, MISAM highlighted that the current rules of the Drug Treatment Prescriber Program require addiction specialist physicians (ASPs) to renew their controlled substances license every two-years. As part of the renewal process, applicants must pay a fee. This requirement needlessly builds upon the federal standard, placing disproportionate burdens on ASPs practicing in small, rural, and non-academic settings. Additionally, MISAM’s letter emphasized how waiving this requirement would increase patient access to medications for addiction treatment (MAT) by enabling ASPs in all areas of the state to build their treatment capacity.