States Should Remove Barriers to Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Prescriptive Authority to Increase Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

2020 ◽  
pp. 152715442097872
Author(s):  
Hayley D. Germack
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Registered Nurse ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Advanced Practice ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
State Planning ◽  
Prescriptive Authority

In October 2018, President Trump signed into law H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act. This piece of legislation addresses treatment, prevention, recovery, and enforcement with particular attention to access in rural areas. It contains numerous provisions to improve needed access to treat substance use disorders and especially opioid use disorder (OUD), including mandatory coverage of medications for OUD, partial elimination of Medicaid payment for inpatient mental health treatment, and state planning grants to increase provider capacity. Many of these provisions would be significantly enhanced by removing barriers to prescriptive authority for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and other state-specific titles for nurses whose scope allows the prescription of controlled substances. This policy brief includes a history of the role of APRNs in the delivery of medications for OUD, scope of practice restrictions related to prescriptive authority as a barrier in their ability to deliver care for this vulnerable population, and actionable strategies that APRNs can take to advocate for an increased role in providing care.

Stigma Associated with Opioid Use Disorder and Medication Assisted Treatment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Harry Holt
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Maintenance Therapy ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Methadone Maintenance ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Medication Assisted Treatment

<b>Purpose</b>: This paper reviews and integrates the literature on the stigma associated with opioid use disorder (OUD) and how this acts as a barrier for patients seeking Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Implications for patients in rural areas who face stigma for opioid use disorder are reviewed. <b>Methods: </b>We examine the extant literature since 2007, reviewing studies focused on the stigma against patients suffering from OUD and MAT. <b>Findings</b>: The review identifies five categories of sources of stigma that research has addressed: Stigma against the patient; stigma by nurses; stigma by primary care physicians; stigma from counselors; stigma by pharmacy and dispensary staff; stigma against MAT by drug courts, stigma by family members, coworkers, and employers. <b>Conclusions</b>: Stigma exists as prejudice, negative stereotypes and associations, and labels. Despite widespread evidence supporting Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy (BMT) effectiveness, stigma abounds within the medical community and society at large. Discriminatory practices, poor relationships with dispensing staff, pharmacists, counselors, and doctors, and a feeling of being separate or “alien” from others are cited as barriers to involvement and participation in MAT. This has created disparities in health care outcomes as well as the access and availability of MAT services. Rural patients experience these sources of stigma and face a heightened barrier to access for MAT services. However, the primary care setting along with delivery of care through primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners offers a means to increase care in rural areas.

Projected Contributions of Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistant to Buprenorphine Treatment Services for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Areas

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Holly A. Andrilla ◽  
Davis G. Patterson ◽  
Tessa E. Moore ◽  
Cynthia Coulthard ◽  
Eric H. Larson
Keyword(s):  
New England ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Prescribe Medication ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
South Central ◽  
Rural Patients

The United States is experiencing an opioid use disorder epidemic. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act allows nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) to obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration waiver to prescribe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. This study projected the potential increase in MAT availability provided by NPs and PAs for rural patients. Using workforce and survey data, and state scope of practice regulations, the number of treatment slots that could be provided by NPs and PAs was estimated for rural areas. NPs and PAs are projected to increase the number of rural patients treated with buprenorphine by 10,777 (15.2%). Census Divisions varied substantially in the number of projected new treatment slots per 10,000 population (0.8-10.6). The New England and East South Central Census Divisions are projected to have the largest population-adjusted increase. NPs and PAs have considerable potential to reduce substantial MAT access disparities.

Stigma Associated with Opioid Use Disorder and Medication Assisted Treatment

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Harry Holt
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Maintenance Therapy ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Methadone Maintenance ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
Medication Assisted Treatment

<b>Purpose</b>: This paper reviews and integrates the literature on the stigma associated with opioid use disorder (OUD) and how this acts as a barrier for patients seeking Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Implications for patients in rural areas who face stigma for opioid use disorder are reviewed. <b>Methods: </b>We examine the extant literature since 2007, reviewing studies focused on the stigma against patients suffering from OUD and MAT. <b>Findings</b>: The review identifies five categories of sources of stigma that research has addressed: Stigma against the patient; stigma by nurses; stigma by primary care physicians; stigma from counselors; stigma by pharmacy and dispensary staff; stigma against MAT by drug courts, stigma by family members, coworkers, and employers. <b>Conclusions</b>: Stigma exists as prejudice, negative stereotypes and associations, and labels. Despite widespread evidence supporting Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and Buprenorphine Maintenance Therapy (BMT) effectiveness, stigma abounds within the medical community and society at large. Discriminatory practices, poor relationships with dispensing staff, pharmacists, counselors, and doctors, and a feeling of being separate or “alien” from others are cited as barriers to involvement and participation in MAT. This has created disparities in health care outcomes as well as the access and availability of MAT services. Rural patients experience these sources of stigma and face a heightened barrier to access for MAT services. However, the primary care setting along with delivery of care through primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners offers a means to increase care in rural areas.

Facilitators and Barriers to Nurse Practitioners Prescribing Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder in Nova Scotia: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 084456212199622
Author(s):  
Aaron E. Bates ◽  
Ruth Martin-Misener
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Role Clarity ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Health Care Context ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers ◽  
Perceived Complexity

Background Opioid use has escalated dramatically resulting in an increase in deaths. Access to treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) is poor. The addition of nurse practitioners (NPs) as prescribers of methadone for OUD offers potential for improving access. Little is known about what support NPs will require as they prescribe methadone. Purpose This paper identifies facilitators and barriers to NPs prescribing methadone. Methods In this qualitative study, in-person and phone semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants. Participants included NPs (n=5), physicians (n=5), and stakeholders including members of professional regulatory bodies and government, academics and other clinicians (n=8). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis and software (NVivo 12.4.0) for data management. Results Four themes emerged: 1) Pervasive Barrier of Stigma; 2) Perceived Complexity of Patients Living with OUD; 3) NP Education and Practice Supports and; 4) Health Care Context and NP Role Implementation. Conclusions Barriers and facilitators to NP prescribing are similar to those encountered by physicians. Factors unique to NPs include the identification of role clarity as a facilitator and navigation of physician networks as a barrier. Research conducted with current NP methadone prescribers is required to evaluate implementation of this service.

Barriers and Facilitators of Using Telehealth to Identify and Manage Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Conditions in Rural Areas: An Environmental Scan (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naim Naim ◽  
Laura Dunlap
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Behavioral Health ◽  
Substance Use Disorder ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Care Patient ◽  
Direct Patient Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Provider Education ◽  
Opioid Use

BACKGROUND Access to behavioral health services, particularly substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services, is challenging in rural and other underserved areas. Some of the reasons for these challenges include local primary care providers without experience in behavioral health treatment, few specialty providers, and concerns over stigma and lack of privacy for individuals from smaller communities. Telehealth can ease these challenges and support behavioral health, specifically SUD treatment, in a variety of ways, including direct patient care, patient engagement, and provider education. Telehealth is particularly relevant for the growing opioid epidemic, which has profoundly affected rural areas. OBJECTIVE We sought to understand how telehealth is used to support behavioral health and SUDs, with a particular focus on implications for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders. The intent was to understand telehealth implementation and use, financing and sustainability, and impact in the field. The results of this work can be used to inform future policy and practice. METHODS We reviewed literature and interviewed telehealth stakeholders and end users in the field. The team identified a diverse set of participants, including clinical staff, administrators, telehealth coordinators, and information technology staff. We analyzed research notes to extract themes from participant experiences to answer the study questions. RESULTS Organizations varied in how they implemented telehealth services and the services they offered. Common themes arose in implementation, such as planning for technical and organizational impacts of telehealth, the importance of leadership support, and tailoring programs to community needs. CONCLUSIONS Telehealth is used in a variety of ways to expand access to services and extend service delivery. As the policy and reimbursement landscape continues to evolve, there may be corresponding changes in telehealth uptake and services provided. CLINICALTRIAL NA

scholarly journals Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Service Provision and Telephone Counseling: A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 6163
Author(s):  
Rosemarie Martin ◽  
Augustine W. Kang ◽  
Audrey A. DeBritz ◽  
Mary R. Walton ◽  
Ariel Hoadley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Telephone Counseling ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Counseling Services ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Qualitative Evidence ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Using quantitative and qualitative evidence, this study triangulates counselors’ perspectives on the use of telemedicine in the context of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment. A concurrent mixed-methods design examined counselors’ experiences with telephone counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic. N = 42 counselors who provided OUD counseling services completed a close-ended, quantitative survey examining their experiences in addressing clients’ anxiety, depression, anger, substance use, therapeutic relationship, and substance use recovery using telephone counseling. The survey also assessed comfort, convenience, and satisfaction with telephone counseling. Counselors also completed open-ended responses examining satisfaction, convenience, relationship with patients, substance use, and general feedback with telephone counseling. The synthesis of quantitative and qualitative evidence indicated that a majority of counselors had positive experiences with using telephone counseling to provide services to clients undergoing OUD treatment. Convenience, greater access to clients, and flexibility were among the reasons cited for their positive experience. However, counselors also expressed that the telephone counseling was impersonal, and that some clients may have difficulties accessing appropriate technology for telehealth adoption. Findings suggest that further research with counselors is needed to identify the key elements of an effective integration of telephone counseling with traditional in-person treatment approaches in the post-pandemic era.

Primary Care of Opioid use Disorder: The End of “the French Model”?

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 346-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Dupouy ◽  
Sandy Maumus-Robert ◽  
Yohann Mansiaux ◽  
Antoine Pariente ◽  
Maryse Lapeyre-Mestre
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Private Practice ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
French Model

<b><i>Background:</i></b> In France, most patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) have been treated by buprenorphine, prescribed by general practitioners (GP) in private practice since 1996. This has contributed to building a ‘French model’ facilitating access to treatment based on the involvement of GPs in buprenorphine prescription. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> Our study aimed to assess whether the involvement of primary care in OUD management has changed lately. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Using data from the French National Health Insurance database, we conducted a yearly repeated cross-sectional study (2009–2015) and described proportion of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT)-prescribing GPs and OMT-dispensing community pharmacies (CP); and number of patients by GP or CP. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Whereas the number of buprenorphine-prescribing GPs in private practice remained quite stable (decrease of 3%), a substantial decrease in buprenorphine initial prescribers among private GPs was observed. In 2009, 10.3% of private GPs (6,297 from 61,301 French private GPs) prescribed buprenorphine for the initiation of a treatment, whereas they were 5.7% (<i>n</i> = 3,539 from 62,071 private GPs) in 2015 (43.8% decrease). GPs issuing initial prescriptions of buprenorphine tended to care for a higher number of patients treated by buprenorphine (14.6 ± 27.1 patients in 2009 to 16.0 ± 35.4 patients in 2015). The number of CPs dispensing buprenorphine remained quite stable (decrease of 2%), while there was a 7.5% decrease in the total number of French CPs across the study period. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Our results suggest that primary care providers seem less engaged in buprenorphine initiation in OUD patients, while CPs have not modified their involvement towards these patients.

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