A bill introduced in the both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives would loosen federal restrictions on access to medication for opioid use disorder. The bipartisan, bicameral Improving Access to Care and Treatment (IMPACT) Act would increase the amount of time prescribers may store long-acting injectable (LAI) buprenorphine dispensed from a specialty pharmacy for administration to their patients.

Under current federal law, prescribers may only hold LAI buprenorphine for 14 days after it is dispensed from a specialty pharmacy. If the medication is not administered to the patient during that timeframe, it must be returned. The IMPACT Act would permit health care providers to hold the medication in their facility for up to 60 days. The change in federal law would address the need for greater flexibility in providing individualized treatment to people with opioid use disorder.

Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Shelley Moore Capito (WV) introduced the Senate bill.

Representatives Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Victoria Spartz (IN-05), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) introduced the House version.

This bill is supported by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, Advocates for Opioid Recovery, Aimed Alliance, Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, Center for U.S. Policy, Female Opioid Research & Clinical Experts, Kennedy Forum, Maryland Heroin Awareness Advocates, A Mother’s Addiction Journey, No More OD’s Inc., Partnership to End Addiction, Prevention Action Alliance, Shatterproof, The Voices Project, Tyler’s Light, and Young People in Recovery.

Read the Senate bill text.

Read Sen. Shaheen’s news release.

Read Rep. Dean’s news release

Read the coalition letter to U.S. Senators.

Read the coalition letter to U.S. Representatives