LASAM Urges State Board of Medical Examiners to Continue Telehealth Prescribing of MOUD
On August 16th, the Louisiana Society of Addiction Medicine (LASAM) sent a letter to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME) regarding the implementation of the state’s newly enacted telehealth law. LASAM urged LSBME to align the implementation with recent US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) policy temporarily allowing for the prescribing of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) without an in-person visit. Further, LASAM urged LSBME to consider a permanent exemption allowing addiction specialists to continue prescribing MOUD without an in-person requirement.
In the letter, LASAM noted the ongoing importance of telehealth as a vital tool to expand treatment for addiction during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. LASAM highlighted that many of its members used telehealth to provide treatment to patients located in rural or isolated areas of the state. Additionally, LASAM highlighted how MOUD is an evidence-based treatment for OUD, proven to improve outcomes for patients. Further, LASAM cited research indicating that broadened access to MOUD through telehealth was done safely and responsibly. As such, telehealth flexibilities allowing for the induction and continuation of MOUD by telehealth must be maintained by LSBME.