Expanding access to nurse-managed medication for opioid use disorder

Background: Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are increasingly caring for individuals with opioid use disorder. Advances have been made to increase APRN education, outreach, and prescribing privileges, but as demand for medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) grows, evidence suggests that policy and care barriers inhibit the ability of APRNs to support MOUD. Purpose: This paper highlights the significant challenges of expanding access to buprenorphine prescribing by APRNs. Findings: Barriers and recommendations were derived from the culmination of literature review, expert consensus discussions among a diverse stakeholder panel including patient representatives, and feedback from community webinars with care providers. Discussion: We provide an overview of existing care barriers, promising practices, and proposed recommendations to enhance the care of individuals and communities with opioid use disorder.