Leading Advocacy Groups to Congress: Eliminate the X-Waiver and Prioritize Education and Training for Treating Addiction
Treatment professional and addiction-related advocacy groups urge Congress to eliminate the X-waiver, which creates an unnecessary barrier to prescribing buprenorphine, and to prioritize education for addiction treatment
The undersigned treatment professional and addiction-related advocacy groups issued the following statement today:
“As clinicians and advocates on the frontlines of the addiction and overdose crisis, we call on Congressional leaders to confront this epidemic with the urgency and boldness it requires. Congress must expand access to evidence-based addiction treatment by passing legislation that would eliminate the X-waiver in its entirety and prioritize education and training for treating patients with addiction in healthcare professional schools and all treatment settings.
“Legislative solutions must be bold, coordinated, and evidence-based. With uncertainty related to the implementation of previously announced practice guidelines removing some of the X-waiver certifications, eliminating the X-waiver in its entirety – while also ensuring widespread dissemination of education and training for treating addiction – will better empower America’s healthcare workforce to administer evidence-based, life-saving care. Together, we must help bring this crisis to an end.
“In the event that Congress does not act swiftly, we look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration on other options that will clearly and inclusively reduce barriers to prescribing this medication for opioid use disorder.”
American College of Medical Toxicology
American Society of Addiction Medicine
The Kennedy Forum
Live 4 Lali
National Council for Behavioral Health
Shatterproof
Well Being Trust
Media Contact:
Rebecca Reid
410-212-3843
rreid@schmidtpa.com
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