Data Waiver Updates

In an effort to increase the number of providers licensed to prescribe medication for opioid use disorders, Congress on December 29, 2022, eliminated the DATA-Waiver Program as part of the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. On January 12, 2023, a letter detailing this change was sent to providers by the Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The DEA notes that Congress implemented a one-time requirement for prescribers of controlled substances registering or renewing a DEA license to document completion of an 8-hour training. This requirement went into effect on June 27, 2023. (If a provider completed the training for the DATA-Waiver [or X-Waiver] in the past, the training requirement has been satisfied.)