Even local clinics do not know federal guidelines regarding Buprenorphine for pain versus addiction

Met a new local provider today who works at Evergreen Family Medicine, also otherwise known as Centennial Medical Group East. They had taken classes to learn about Buprenorphine to help patients, yet they and their bosses still didn’t know that you do not need to become “X” licensed by the DEA to prescribe Buprenorphine for “pain.” The “X” license is required to prescribe it for opiate substance abuse disorder or addiction. Dr. Coelho in Salem and other providers are having chronic pain patients sign documents to get Buprenorphine covered by their insurance companies due to costs; but by signing such paperwork the patients are admitting that they have an “addiction” problem, not a pain problem. That “admission” to save money will haunt them for the rest of their lives, as they now are self-professed “addicts” and most providers will never prescribe pain medications for them long-term, much less even short-term after surgery and such. I have had to educate providers and even pharmacists on this issue as most of them still do not understand the rules regarding Buprenorphine prescribing.