End Substance Use Disorder Commends Members of Congress for Calling for Extension of Telehealth Access to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Today, a group of senators and representatives sent a letter to the Biden-Harris Administration asking them to extend regulations that removed barriers to opioid use disorder treatment at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. End Substance Use Disorder released the following statement:

“The loss our country has experienced to overdoses this year has been tragic and millions more are currently struggling without access to the treatment they need to heal,” said Erin Schanning, president of End Substance Use Disorder. "Extending these common-sense regulations that have opened access to telehealth treatment for substance use disorder will save lives and keep those in need safe from overdoses. We urge the Biden-Harris Administration to act with urgency to ensure pathways to treatment are open to all in need.”

In March 2020, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration allowed healthcare providers with federal licenses to prescribe medications for opioid use disorder to new patients via telehealth. The agencies also allowed for existing patients taking methadone to receive take-home doses. Previously, existing patients receiving methadone had to travel daily to opioid treatment programs to receive the medication.

Recognizing the deepening overdose crisis, the letter from members of Congress calls on the Biden-Harris Administration to make these changes permanent in an effort to remove as many barriers as possible to people accessing treatment.