President Obama Proposes $1.1 Billion in New Funding to Address the Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Use Epidemic

The White House calls for a pilot project for NPs and PAs to be allowed to prescribe suboxone as treatment for opioid addiction according to state law which means that in VT we will have full prescribing authority if the budget is passed. We still do not have any details on how this would look or work but the AANP policy folks are working with congressional reps and others to make sure the wording is appropriate. We have attached the full press release and below you will see the one sentence that applies to the proposed pilot.

"A portion of this funding is directed specifically to rural areas, where rates of overdose and opioid use are particularly high. To help further expand access to treatment, the Budget includes an HHS pilot project for nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment, where allowed by state law."

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/02/president-obama-proposes-11-billion-new-funding-address-prescription