Press Releases

AMA statement on NIH buprenorphine study

| 1 Min Read

The following statement is attributable to:
Bobby Mukkamala, MD
President-elect of the American Medical Association 
Chair of the AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force

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"The American Medical Association (AMA) welcomes new study findings from the National Institutes of Health that higher doses of buprenorphine may improve treatment outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). The findings support AMA policy calling for flexibility in buprenorphine dosing, allowing patients to receive doses exceeding FDA-approved limits when clinically recommended by their prescriber. Policymakers must take note of these findings and the growing body of evidence that further affirm buprenorphine as a safe, effective, and lifesaving tool in the fight against the illicit fentanyl overdose epidemic. It is also critically important for health insurance companies, Medicaid, and Medicare to remove dosage caps for buprenorphine. The AMA strongly urges outdated policies be revised to ensure patients with OUD can access lifesaving, evidence-based care.”

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About the American Medical Association

The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care.  The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.

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