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MAT & MATE Acts

Updates to Buprenorphine Prescribing & Substance Use Training from the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2023

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the fiscal year 2023 omnibus, passing the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) and Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Acts. These bills were passed to expand access to buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder, and normalize and enhance substance use care across healthcare settings.

DACS is monitoring guidance from state and federal agencies closely and will update this page when more information becomes available. The resources on this page offer information about the new legislation and the implications for healthcare providers and programs.


MAT Act: Removes the waiver requirement to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder

With this provision, and effective immediately, SAMHSA will no longer be accepting NOIs (waiver applications). All practitioners who have a current DEA registration that includes Schedule III authority, may now prescribe buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder in their practice if permitted by applicable state law and SAMHSA encourages them to do so. - More from SAMHSA on Removal of DATA Waiver (X-Waiver) Requirement

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the removal of the x-waiver go into effect?

As of December 29, 2022.

Are there still limits on how many patients I can prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder?

No, there are no more extended limits on the number of patients a prescriber may treat for OUD with buprenorphine.

Do I still need to keep a list of all patients treated with buprenorphine and all prescriptions written?

No, separate tracking is no longer required for prescribing buprenorphine.

What does the removal of the x-waiver mean for pharmacies?

It means pharmacy staff can fill buprenorphine prescriptions using the prescribing authority's DEA number. The prescriber does not need the DATA 2000 waiver for pharmacists to dispense buprenorphine. The caveat is that depending on the pharmacy, the dispensing software may still require the x-waiver information to proceed.


MATE Act: Requires prescribers of controlled substances to complete an 8-hour SUD training upon renewing or receiving their DEA license

Effective June 27, 2023 new or renewing DEA registrants will be required to have 8 hours of training on opioid or other substance use disorders, as well as the safe pharmacological management of dental pain, through an accredited source. The DATA-2000 waiver training to prescribe buprenorphine counts towards this requirement. Training hours do not have to be completed in one session and can be satisfied through cumulative sessions. - More from SAMHSA on Recommendations for Curricular Elements in Substance Use Disorders Training

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for satisfying this new training requirement?

All DEA-registered practitioners, with the exception of practitioners that are solely veterinarians.

How will practitioners be asked to report satisfying this new training requirement?

Beginning on June 27, 2023, practitioners will be required to check a box on their online DEA registration form—regardless of whether a registrant is completing their initial registration application or renewing their registration—affirming that they have completed
the new training requirement.

What is the deadline for satisfying this new training requirement?

The deadline for satisfying this new training requirement is the date of a prescriber’s next scheduled DEA registration submission—regardless of whether it is an initial registration or a renewal registration—on or after June 27, 2023. This one-time training requirement affirmation will not be a part of future registration renewals.

How can practitioners satisfy this new training requirement?

By engaging in a total of eight hours of training on treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders via accredited continuing education sources.

  • The training does not have to occur in one session. It can be cumulative across multiple sessions that equal eight hours of training.
  • Trainings can occur in a variety of formats, including classroom settings, seminars at professional society meetings, or virtual offerings, as long as the training is provided by or approved by the organizations specified below.
  • Past trainings on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders can count towards a practitioner meeting this requirement. 
  • Past DATA 2000 waiver trainings count towards a DEA registrant’s 8-hour training requirement.

How do I know if I already satisfied the training requirement?

The following groups of practitioners are deemed to have satisfied this training:

Group 1: All practitioners that are board certified in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Board of Addiction Medicine, or the American Osteopathic Association.

Group 2: All practitioners that graduated in good standing from a medical (allopathic or osteopathic), dental, physical assistant, or advanced practice nursing school within five years of June 27, 2023, and successfully completed a comprehensive curriculum that included at least eight hours of training on:

  • Treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a substance use disorder; OR
  • Safe pharmacological management of dental pain and screening, brief intervention, and referral for appropriate treatment of patients with or at risk of developing opioid and other substance use disorders.
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What accredited groups may provide trainings that meet this new requirement?

The training needs to be provided by or approved by one of the following organizations:

  • The American Society of Addiction Medicine
  • The American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
  • The American Medical Association
  • The American Osteopathic Association
  • The American Dental Association
  • The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
  • The American Psychiatric Association
  • The American Nurses Credentialing Center
  • The American Association of Nurse Practitioners
  • The American Academy of Physician Associates
  • Any other organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) or the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition (CCEPR)
  • Any organization accredited by a State medical society accreditor that is recognized by the ACCME or the CCEPR
  • Any organization accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide continuing medical education
  • Any organization approved by the ACCME, or the CCEPR.

For additional information read the DEA letter to prescribers.