HHS Nearly Doubles Number of Patients Eligible for Opioid Rescue Drugs

HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced a final rule last week that would more than double the number of patients for whom physicians can prescribe opioid rescue drugs.

Under the rule, physicians will be able to prescribe buprenorphine and buprenorphine combined with naloxone to 275 patients, a significant increase from the current cap of 100, Burwell said in a conference call. She did not say when the rule will be implemented.

Currently, physicians looking to exceed the cap must register their facility as an opioid treatment program.