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An Act To Increase the Number of Suboxone Prescribers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §2594-E, sub-§5, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 242, §3, is amended to read:
 
D. Scope of practice for physician assistants, including prescribing of controlled drugs and treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products;
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §2594-E, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Waiver application for buprenorphine.     A physician assistant licensed and registered pursuant to this section whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication and who is authorized under federal law to be eligible for a waiver from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products shall apply for the waiver for the purpose of treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products.
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §2600-D  is enacted to read:
§ 2600-D. Waiver application for buprenorphine
An individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication shall obtain a physician waiver from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for the purpose of treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products.
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §3270-E, sub-§5, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 242, §5, is amended to read:
 
D. Scope of practice for physician assistants, including prescribing of controlled drugs and treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products;
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §3270-E, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Waiver application for buprenorphine.     A physician assistant licensed and registered pursuant to this section whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication and who is authorized under federal law to be eligible for a waiver from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products shall apply for the waiver for the purpose of treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products.
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §3300-G  is enacted to read:
§ 3300-G. Waiver application for buprenorphine
An individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication shall obtain a physician waiver from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for the purpose of treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products.
Sec. 7. MaineCare reimbursement rates for buprenorphine-medication-assisted treatment of substance use disorder. The Department of Health and Human Services shall increase reimbursement rates under the MaineCare program for buprenorphine-medication-assisted treatment, including prescriptions and accompanying behavioral health services, such as case management, counseling and drug testing, by 30% no later than January 1, 2018.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires osteopathic and allopathic physicians whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication to obtain a physician waiver from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to treat opioid dependency using buprenorphine products. It also requires physician assistants whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid medication to apply for a waiver as long as they are authorized under federal law. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to increase reimbursement rates under the MaineCare program for buprenorphine-medication-assisted treatment including prescriptions and accompanying services by 30% no later than January 1, 2018.