Pharmacy-Based Buprenorphine Induction and Maintenance: Overcoming Barriers to Care Through Simultaneous Policy Analysis, Real-World Demonstration Projects, and Toolkit Dissemination

Pharmacists in Connecticut and Ohio will be trained to prescribe buprenorphine and provide maintenance care to people with opioid use disorder as part of a demonstration program that aims to increase access to treatment in areas where physician prescribers are limited. Ten pharmacies — all part of Genoa Healthcare, the nation’s fourth largest pharmacy chain — will offer ongoing care to 100 patients over 18 months, yielding insights on best practices for recruiting and retaining patients in pharmacy-based care. As part of the project, investigators will also develop implementation toolkits for other pharmacies and conduct a state-by-state review of pharmacy regulations to understand the barriers and facilitators to spreading this approach.