2024 Addiction Medicine Board Certification Review Course-2024 - Telemedicine for Opioid Use Disorder Including MOUD

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Anthony Decker presented a comprehensive board review course on telemedicine for substance use disorder for the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine. He covered the regulation and practice of telemedicine, detailing its state and national laws concerning medical practice and the Controlled Substance Act, which became more flexible after the COVID-19 public health emergency and due to the opioid overdose epidemic.<br /><br />Decker emphasized the fluidity of telemedicine definitions, varying by jurisdiction, and its components ranging from bi-directional, synchronous video conferencing for direct patient care to asynchronous communication technologies. He discussed the importance of security, informed consent, appropriate documentation, and collaborative practices with other healthcare providers, illustrating the significant role of technology in telemedicine, including the remote use of devices for examinations.<br /><br />The speaker addressed the complexity of treating addiction via telemedicine, highlighting the ease of prescribing buprenorphine compared to the intricacies of managing addiction. He underscored the evolving telemedicine landscape, referencing recent laws and Supreme Court rulings affecting telemedicine practice.<br /><br />Decker concluded that telemedicine remains a critical tool in addiction medicine, especially for managing opioid use disorder, while stressing the need for robust security measures, informed consent, patient monitoring, and adherence to varying state laws. The HHS final rule (February 2024) now allows the initiation of buprenorphine treatment via telehealth, reflecting the continuing evolution in telemedicine practices to better address the opioid crisis.

Keywords

telemedicine

substance use disorder

American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine

Controlled Substance Act

COVID-19

opioid overdose epidemic

buprenorphine

informed consent

HHS final rule

addiction medicine