Another Buprenorphine Question

[Chrismander]

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How do the buprenorphine regulations apply to multiphysician practices? For example, say OPD has 30 patients on Bupe, and his partner Anasazi also has 30. If OPD takes off for a week and Sazi writes refills for a few of OPD's patients, does that put Sazi above his 30 patient threshold? Will the DEA be kicking down Sazi's door in the middle of the night?

 

[Anasazi23]

From the SAMHSA website:

10. Does DATA 2000 limit the number of patients who may be treated for opioid addiction at any one time by a physician group practice?

The physician group practice limit was eliminated by Public Law 109-56, which became effective August 2, 2005.

 

[Chrismander]

From the SAMHSA website:

So does that mean that the group's maximum is the sum of the individual practitioners, however the patients are divied up? Say one doc consistently sees 70% of the patients at the practice, that wouldn't put him "over the top"? Could an addiction practice then hire "ghost psychiatrists" just to increase their buprenorphine limits?

This just all seems so confusing to me for some reason.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

So does that mean that the group's maximum is the sum of the individual practitioners, however the patients are divied up? Say one doc consistently sees 70% of the patients at the practice, that wouldn't put him "over the top"? Could an addiction practice then hire "ghost psychiatrists" just to increase their buprenorphine limits?

This just all seems so confusing to me for some reason.

You're not alone. I'm convinced that all this bureaucracy is the main thing preventing more prescribers from getting certified. One one hand, it's a good idea, since the idea is to prevent the emergence of millions of "methadone mills", but on the other--really, why don't we just require specialized certification for every danged medication we prescribe!? 😡

 

[michaelrack]

I believe docs can apply to have their limit increased from 30 to 100 patients