KYSAM Requests Emergency Opinion on Frequency of Visit Requirements

On May 16th, The Kentucky Society of Addiction Medicine (KYSAM) wrote a letter to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML) requesting an emergency board opinion regarding 01 KAR 9:270 § (2)(4)(e)(3) as it concerns patient visits for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). The current policy requires practitioners treating OUD to see their patients ten (10) days after initiation of buprenorphine and then at intervals of no more than ten (10) days for the first month after initiation; and at intervals of no more than fourteen (14) days for the second month after initiation.

In the letter, KYSAM articulated the specific challenges posed by patient visit requirements for practitioners at Fayette County Detention Center. Principally, KYSAM highlighted that Fayette County Detention Center recently entered into a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice requiring that individuals in their custody continue receiving medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment without interruption. However, practitioners at Fayette County Detention Center encounter difficulties meeting the patient visit requirement while upholding the terms of the settlement agreement, due to logistical challenges. Additionally, KYSAM expressed concern with the prescriptive nature of the current patient visit requirements and conflicts with national guidelines for the administration of MOUD. As such, KYSAM urged KBML to issue an emergency opinion permitting treatment decisions about frequency of patient visits be determined by treating practitioners until significant revisions to the official policy can be made.

Read the letter.