PHARMACIST AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT

To advocate for the role of the pharmacist in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder, including patient assessment, education, prescribing, and monitoring of pharmacologic therapies; further,

To pursue the development of federal and state laws and regulations that recognize pharmacists as providers of MAT for opioid use disorder; further,

To foster additional research on clinical outcomes of pharmacist-driven MAT; further,

To advocate for the removal of barriers for all providers to be able to provide MAT to patients.

Rationale

An estimated 2.5 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder. In 2017, the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis recommended that the U.S. increase screenings and treatment for opioid use disorder. Many pharmacists have the skills to provide direct care to patients with opioid addiction or assist other healthcare providers in caring for these patients. Although some states allow pharmacists to prescribe controlled substances under collaborative practice agreements, pharmacists are not eligible to obtain a waiver under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 to prescribe buprenorphine or other drugs for opioid use disorder. Having such prescribing authority would allow pharmacists to fully exercise their expertise and expand the pool of MAT providers. ASHP advocates the removal of barriers for all providers to be able to provide MAT to patients and encourages additional research on the clinical outcomes of pharmacist-driven MAT.