Sens. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Rand Paul, MD, R-Ky., on June 25 reintroduced legislation that would allow board-certified physicians to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder and pharmacies to dispense the medication, according to a news release from Mr. Markey’s office.
Here are three things to know:
- The Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act would expand access to methadone, which is currently available to patients with opioid use disorder only through opioid treatment programs. Patients typically must travel to an opioid treatment program daily or nearly every day early in treatment and, on average, drive 4.5 times farther to reach one than a pharmacy, the release said.
- The legislation builds on a version that passed the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in December 2023 by allowing HHS to designate additional licensed providers who can prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder without additional legislation.
- More than 50 organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Mass General Brigham and WellSpan Health, have endorsed the legislation. Senate co-sponsors include Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tina Smith, D-Minn., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
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