Urges U.S. President, Congress, and Department of Health and Human Services to ease patient limits applicable to private physicians prescribing buprenorphine as part of medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders.
The bill addresses significant issues associated with the federal 'Controlled Substances Act' and its amendments under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000, which restricts the ability of physicians to prescribe buprenorphine to a limited number of patients. The resolution is grounded in research indicating that buprenorphine significantly lowers the risk of fatal overdose and promotes recovery, yet less than 32,000 physicians are presently authorized to prescribe it due to these federal regulations. This resolution aims to enhance the accessibility of buprenorphine treatment, potentially increasing the number of patients who can receive care, thus impacting the broader opioid crisis by promoting recovery supports.
SCR54 is a concurrent resolution introduced in the New Jersey Legislature that urges the President and Congress of the United States, along with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), to ease current patient limits on private physicians prescribing buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a medication used in treatment for opioid dependence, recognized for its ability to assist individuals in managing their addictions. The resolution specifically calls for the elimination of the 30-patient limit currently imposed under federal law for private physicians treating opioid-dependent patients. This limit is viewed as a barrier to effective treatment, as many individuals unable to access necessary care suffer from untreated addiction.
Notably, there are concerns surrounding the current regulations as they are deemed outdated by many experts and advocates. The legislation recognizes that despite the intent to prevent misuse, the existing patient limits likely impede treatment access more than they mitigate risks. Advocacy groups have pushed for reforms, stating that the federal restrictions reflect outdated prejudices against addiction, impeding the effective treatment of opioid use disorders. The resolution calls for legislative change to facilitate better care for those struggling with addiction, emphasizing that the inability of private physicians to adequately treat larger numbers of patients undercuts the potential for recovery in many individuals.