Publications · 2022
Physician Response to COVID-19-driven Telehealth Flexibility for Opioid Use Disorder
American Journal of Managed Care , 28(9):456-463 , 2022 · doi:10.37765/ajmc.2022.89221
Overview
Surveying 1,141 publicly registered buprenorphine prescribers in July 2020, telehealth use among physicians treating opioid use disorder more than doubled during the early pandemic (from 29% pre-COVID to 66%). Most found telehealth more effective than expected and 85% favored making the COVID-era flexibilities permanent. The findings indicate physician demand for the regulatory changes that have since informed national telehealth policy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To learn how preferences and practices regarding telehealth have evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic for physicians who provide opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Publicly registered physicians who provide OUD treatment were surveyed on their current and retrospective use of telehealth and how their perception of telehealth effectiveness and policy preferences have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic as telehealth regulations were loosened throughout the country. METHODS: The primary survey data were collected in July 2020 leveraging administrative contact information for the population of publicly listed buprenorphine-prescribing physicians in the United States. A total of 1141 physicians received the survey and consented to participate. RESULTS: Many surveyed physicians used telehealth for the first time during the early COVID-19 era (29% pre-COVID-19 use rate increased to 66%). Most respondents found telehealth to be more effective than expected (54% vs 16% who found it less effective), 85% were in favor of the temporary telehealth flexibility being permanently extended, and 77% would be likely to use telehealth after the COVID-19 pandemic, regulations permitting. Imputation exercises that leverage the linked survey and administrative data suggest that the findings are unlikely to be driven by nonrandom survey participation. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians were asked about their OUD telehealth policy preferences. Findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic increased physician respondent use of telehealth technology, and this has positively shifted their perceptions of effectiveness. Respondents overwhelmingly report interest in post-COVID-19 pandemic telehealth use and support for proposed legislation to loosen telehealth restrictions.
Recognition & impact
Cited in policy & guidance7
- Congressional Budget Justification FY 2024National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Policy Statement: Optimizing Telehealth Access to Addiction CareAmerican Society of Addiction Medicine
- Re: DEA and SAMHSA request for continued telehealth flexibilitiesMembers of US Congress (Kuster, Trahan)
- Re: RIN 1117-AB78 / Docket No. DEA-948 — Expansion of Induction of Buprenorphine via Telemedicine EncounterAmerican Society of Addiction Medicine
- Re: SB 66 Telehealth Law and Provisions Relating to Addiction MedicineLouisiana Society of Addiction Medicine
- Re: DEA and SAMHSA make telehealth flexibilities permanentCoalition to Stop Opioid Overdose (24 professional organizations)
- Navigating the Complexities of Health Professions Education for Millennial and Generation Z LearnersTextbook for health professions educators
Media2
- Opioid addiction doctors want telehealth rules to stay relaxedThe Verge
- Most docs want telehealth for opioid abuse treatment to stick aroundUS News and World Report
Topics
- telehealth
- buprenorphine
- physician survey
- COVID-19
- opioid use disorder
- regulatory policy
- DEA
- access to care
How to cite
Beetham T, Fiellin DA, Busch SH. Physician Response to COVID-19-driven Telehealth Flexibility for Opioid Use Disorder. American Journal of Managed Care, 28(9):456-463; 2022. doi:10.37765/ajmc.2022.89221
Show BibTeX
@article{beetham2022physicianresponse,
title = {{Physician Response to COVID-19-driven Telehealth Flexibility for Opioid Use Disorder}},
author = {Beetham, T. and Fiellin, D. A. and Busch, S. H.},
journal = {American Journal of Managed Care},
year = {2022},
volume = {28},
number = {9},
pages = {456--463},
doi = {10.37765/ajmc.2022.89221},
url = {https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2022.89221},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: To learn how preferences and practices regarding telehealth have evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic for physicians who provide opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. STUDY DESIGN: Publicly registered physicians who provide OUD treatment were surveyed on their current and retrospective use of telehealth and how their perception of telehealth effectiveness and policy preferences have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic as telehealth regulations were loosened throughout the country. METHODS: The primary survey data were collected in July 2020 leveraging administrative contact information for the population of publicly listed buprenorphine-prescribing physicians in the United States. A total of 1141 physicians received the survey and consented to participate. RESULTS: Many surveyed physicians used telehealth for the first time during the early COVID-19 era (29% pre-COVID-19 use rate increased to 66%). Most respondents found telehealth to be more effective than expected (54% vs 16% who found it less effective), 85% were in favor of the temporary telehealth flexibility being permanently extended, and 77% would be likely to use telehealth after the COVID-19 pandemic, regulations permitting. Imputation exercises that leverage the linked survey and administrative data suggest that the findings are unlikely to be driven by nonrandom survey participation. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians were asked about their OUD telehealth policy preferences. Findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic increased physician respondent use of telehealth technology, and this has positively shifted their perceptions of effectiveness. Respondents overwhelmingly report interest in post-COVID-19 pandemic telehealth use and support for proposed legislation to loosen telehealth restrictions.},
keywords = {telehealth; buprenorphine; physician survey; COVID-19; opioid use disorder; regulatory policy; DEA; access to care},
note = {Media coverage: The Verge, US News and World Report}
}