Pharmacists Gain Authority to Prescribe Buprenorphine Following New Legislation

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has achieved a significant legislative milestone, allowing pharmacists to prescribe buprenorphine after specialized training. This development aims to enhance the role of pharmacists in treating opioid use disorder (OUD) and is part of a broader effort to address the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States.

On December 1, 2025, President Trump signed H.R. 2483, known as the “SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025,” which includes a crucial provision allowing the APhA and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) to provide eight hours of continuing pharmacy education (CPE) training. This training is essential for pharmacists seeking to prescribe buprenorphine, a vital medication in OUD treatment, and ensures they maintain their Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration.

Michael D. Hogue, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, FFIP, executive vice president and CEO of APhA, expressed the importance of this legislation, stating, “Pharmacists are on the front lines of patient care, and this provision recognizes their critical role in addressing the opioid epidemic. By enabling pharmacists to prescribe buprenorphine with appropriate training, we are expanding access to treatment and saving lives.”

This legislation not only reauthorizes programs related to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery but also takes effect retroactively as if enacted on December 29, 2022. States will need to authorize pharmacists to prescribe buprenorphine before they can participate in the CPE training.

The new provision aligns with the objectives of the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, which APhA strongly supports. It builds upon progress made by the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment Act, which eliminated the outdated X-waiver requirement, facilitating easier access for pharmacists and other healthcare providers to prescribe buprenorphine.

This legislative victory marks a historic moment, as it is the first time APhA has been explicitly named in U.S. legislation, underscoring the growing recognition of the pharmacy profession’s role in healthcare. APhA plans to provide further information regarding how pharmacists can access the required CPE training through both APhA and ACPE.

About APhA: The American Pharmacists Association is dedicated to advancing the pharmacy profession. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APhA supports pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians in optimizing medication use and improving patient health outcomes. Through advocacy, education, and resources, APhA ensures patients have access to vital pharmacist care. For more information, visit www.pharmacist.com.