Telehealth and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Evidence Roundup – Playbook

Better Care Playbook May 29, 2024
Hadley Fitzgerald, Center for Health Care Strategies

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) published a final rule permanently allowing opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to use telehealth, including phone-only, in initiating buprenorphine, a flexibility introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Buprenorphine is one of three FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment and studies show it is effective at stopping withdrawal symptoms and reducing overdose risks. Studies also show that buprenorphine treatment via telehealth has the same or better retention outcomes compared to in-person treatment. Prior to the pandemic flexibilities and this final rule, in-person evaluations were required by federal regulations for new patients to initiate buprenorphine in OTPs.

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