Section 1262 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 removes the federal requirement for practitioners to have an “X” waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. 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.

Until further notice, pharmacists can use the Buprenorphine Pharmacy Lookup to verify a practitioner's certification to prescribe and dispense buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).

Pharmacy Resources for Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as medications for substance use disorders to treat OUD are available in pharmacies throughout the United States. 

Pharmacists and pharmacies are not required to have any credentials for dispensing these medications beyond those for other Schedule III medications. Certain federal laws and regulations, however, do affect pharmacy practice with regard to OUD treatment prescriptions.