Are BH providers co-located with DEA waivered Buprenorphine Prescribers?

Investigators: Lisa de Saxe Zerden, PhD, MSW; Brianna Lombardi, PhD, MSW; Erica Richman, PhD, MSW; Alex Forte, MSW; Evan Galloway, MPS

Objective: Targeted planning for co-location of DEA-waivered buprenorphine prescribers and BH clinicians could increase the use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Presently, less than half of all waivered prescribers, outside of hospitals, are co-located with BH clinicians. This study sought to provide a national benchmark to assess the degree to which DEA-waivered providers are co-located with behavioral health providers, and thus, implementing best practice models for MOUD.

Methods: To understand the rate of co-location of DEA-waivered providers and behavioral health providers, we conducted spatial analysis using two publicly available data sources. We identified the physical location of DEA waivered prescribers through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrator Buprenorphine Practitioner Locator and the physical location of social workers and psychologists using the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) downloadable file.

Findings: 1) Waiver size predicted colocation. Prescribers with the smallest waivers (>30) were more likely to be co-located with BH providers 2) There were significant geographic difference in co-locations. Prescribers in urban or metro areas were more likely to be co-located with BH providers 3) Co-location occurred differently at the individual, county, and state level. States with expanded Nurse Practitioner scope of practice regulations were more likely to be colocated, across all provider types

• Zerden, LdS, Sullivan, C, Galloway, E, Richman, EL, Gaiser, MG, Lombardi, B. Are DEA-waivered buprenorphine prescribers colocated with behavioral health clinicians? Am J Addict. 2023; 1-10. doi:10.1111/ajad.13462

• Zerden, L, Lombardi, B, Richman, E.  Are BH providers co-located with DEA waivered Buprenorphine Prescribers? Carolina Health Workforce Research Center, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, UNC-CH. November 2022.

• Zerden L, Lombardi B, Sullivan C, Richman E, Galloway E, Gaiser M. 12 January 2024. Co-Location of DEA-Waivered Buprenorphine Prescribers and Behavioral Health Clinicians. Society for Social Work and Research. Washington, D.C.
• Richman E, Lombardi B, Zerden L, Sullivan C, Galloway E, Gaiser M. 2023 November 12. Are buprenorphine prescribers co-located with behavioral health clinicians? APHA 2023 Annual Meeting. Atlanta, GA.
• Zerden, L.D. Are BH providers co-located with DEA waivered Buprenorphine Prescribers? 2023 Academy Health Conference. Poster Presentation.
• Zerden, L. Are DEA-waivered Buprenorphine Prescribers Co-located with Behavioral Health Clinicians? 2023 AAMC Health Workforce Research Conference, Washington, DC.