Expand Pharmacists’ Ability to Treat Opioid Addiction
Contact Your Member of Congress Today
Ask your member of Congress to support the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act of 2021, which will eliminate a barrier preventing pharmacists from prescribing and dispensing buprenorphine for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of opioid addiction.
About This Issue
What’s Happening
Pharmacists are not eligible to prescribe and dispense buprenorphine for MAT through a process known as an X-waiver. ASHP supports legislation to eliminate X-waivers and increase the number of providers who can prescribe MAT. We are also working to build support for legislation that would modify the X-waiver system to allow pharmacists to prescribe and manage MAT as part of an integrated care team.
Here’s What You Can Do
We need your help to ensure that every member of Congress understands how pharmacists can address the nation's opioid epidemic.
1. Send an email to your members of Congress. Use the provided email to describe the ways you help prevent opioid abuse and misuse, your role in supporting MAT, and barriers to providing care.
2. Ask colleagues at your practice site to join you. Every voice counts!
3. Brief your organization’s administration and Government Relations staff on the issue.