Are DEA-waivered Buprenorphine Prescribers Co-located With Behavioral Health Clinicians?

Authors: Lisa de Saxe Zerden, PhD, MSW | Brianna Lombardi, PhD, MSW | Erica Richman, PhD, MSW | Connor Sullivan, PhD | Evan Galloway, MPS

Topics: Behavioral Health, Primary Care

Research Center: Carolina Health Workforce Research Center

December 23, 2022

Medication is increasingly used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) in primary care. It incorporates medication (ie, buprenorphine) with behavioral therapy and/or psychosocial services. Targeted planning for co-location of DEA-waivered buprenorphine prescribers and behavioral health (BH) clinicians could increase the use of MOUD. Presently, less than half of all waivered prescribers, outside of hospitals, are co-located with BH clinicians.

This brief provides information on where co-location of DEA-waivered buprenorphine prescribers and BH clinicians occurs and among which type of providers. As this brief details, co-location varies geographically and by profession.

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