There are not enough treatment providers to meet the needs of the COVID-19 pandemic and with social distancing, it is critical to minimize the number of face-to-face contacts at the same time as continuing critical treatment for our patients with OUD. Telemedicine can increase access to patients who require ongoing substance use disorder treatment. However, there are numerous regulatory, logistical and other clinical questions, which are also rapidly changing, around implementing telemedicine delivery of medication treatment for OUD (tele-MOUD). In this presentation, we will: present evidence on tele-MOUD but focus most of the discussion on clinical considerations in using implementing telemedicine to deliver quality buprenorphine treatment.

The audience will be introduced to tele-MOUD through an interactive facilitated discussion in which audience members will discuss their perceptions, questions and experiences in implementing tele-MOUD. This will be focused on practical clinical concerns around requirements and what works and doesn’t work. We will discuss patient cases related to OUD and associated clinical issues will be presented in order to guide the audience interactively through consideration of treatment options, and how tele-MOUD can play a role depending on the local resources or legal environment. Finally, there will be a discussion of overcoming barriers and challenges to implementing telemedicine delivered treatment. We will address the latest state and federal level legal requirements including discussion of recent changes in regulation.

This activity was developed to meet the needs of physicians and all interprofessional healthcare providers.

Allison Lin, MD, MS, University of Michigan, VA at Ann Arbor; David Moore, MD, PhD, Yale University

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit.

Interpersonal Skills and Communication
Medical Knowledge
Systems-based practice

Recognize key changes in federal regulations and guidances in the setting of Covid-19 and what they mean for tele-MOUD.
Describe evidence-base around tele-MOUD and gaps in evidence.
Describe the potential ways that tele-MOUD can address current treatment needs while also discussing important clinical considerations in using tele-MOUD, including specific patients’ characteristics, clinic practices, and local resources to consider.
Review information on key regulatory/legal requirements and technology considerations important to use of tele-MOUD.

In order to receive maximum credit, learners must:

1. Review the materials provided in this module.
2. Complete knowledge-based assessment questions to assess both prior knowledge and knowledge change following the activity
3. Complete an evaluation to assess satisfaction and plans for individual and/or team practice change.
4. Follow instructions at the end of the course regarding how to retrieve a certificate.*

*Credit will not be awarded unless all components of the program are completed. Partial credit will not be awarded.