Medications like buprenorphine and methadone are an underused tool in the fight against the opioid crisis. New resources are here to dispel myths about medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Health care providers and first responders should learn the facts about these life-saving medications. Making MOUD part of the standard of care will benefit patients, practice, and community.
Washington State continues collective efforts to stem the tide of the opioid crisis, yet MOUD is a critical tool that is often overlooked. MOUD has profound potential to reduce opioid overdoses and save lives. MOUD like buprenorphine and methadone are proven to reduce mortality from opioid use disorder (OUD) by over 50%. These medicines can reduce opioid cravings and help patients stabilize their lives.
Health care providers remain hesitant about MOUD
Despite the promise of MOUD to save lives and improve outcomes for people with OUD, these medications are not regularly prescribed. One recent study tracked MOUD prescribing in 300 hospitals around the country. Of more than 6,700 visits for overdose or OUD, MOUD was dispensed or prescribed to less than 500 patients, around 7% of the time.
In recent interviews, Washington health care professionals expressed uncertainty about prescribing these medications. They said they lacked training or education about MOUD, and some held outdated ideas about limitations on providers to prescribe these drugs (a special waiver previously required to prescribe MOUD was removed in 2023 to help improve access).
Despite hesitation, many providers shared a strong desire to help their patients who struggled with opioid use. They just didn't always know where to start.
Health care providers and first responders face real barriers in caring for patients with OUD, from time constraints to billing pressure to a lack of support from leadership. Despite these challenges, it's time for the Washington medical community to commit to making MOUD a routine part of caring for patients with OUD.
New resources for Washington providers to get started with MOUD
It's time to bridge the gap between the promise of MOUD and low prescribing rates across the state. Washington State Health Care Authority and Department of Health have partnered to create a new set of MOUD resources and tools for providers and first responders. These materials can help any health care provider in the state learn the basics and feel empowered to start conversations about medication treatment for OUD.
New MOUD resources and tools are now live at ScalaNW.org/MOUD. The new campaign is an extension of HCA's ScalaNW program, launched in 2024 for emergency departments to administer buprenorphine and coordinate follow-up care. Now that scope has widened with new evidence-based guides, videos, and quick tips to enable clinicians to get the facts about MOUD. Equipped with critical information, clinicians can feel confident talking about it with patients. The toolkit also includes guides to use a shared decision-making approach that puts the patient at the center of their treatment.
What's inside the new MOUD provider resources on ScalaNW
Below is a preview of what these free provider resources have to offer Washington's medical community:
- Myths and facts about buprenorphine: There are still a lot of myths about buprenorphine – and they continue to shape the way providers care for patients, often without realizing it. We take a closer look at the evidence, and make sure misinformation isn't getting in the way of life-saving care.
- Shared decision-making in OUD treatment conversations: Shared decision-making (SDM) helps providers and patients work together to choose a path that best fits the patient's values, goals, and needs, ultimately improving patient buy-in and commitment to the chosen treatment. We've created a guide to support health care providers and emergency first responders to understand the SDM approach and apply it to their conversations with patients about MOUD.
- Conversation starters for providers to discuss MOUD with patients: Sometimes all that's needed are a few go-to phrases to get the conversation going. This guide contains example language that can help facilitate rapport, trust-building, and engagement in SDM.
- Provider testimonials - hear from your peers: Health care providers and first responders share their firsthand experience in talking to their patients about opioids, prescribing MOUD to those who could benefit, and saw positive results in patient outcomes.
Get started today to improve care for your patients with OUD
If you're a health care provider, please take some time to explore and share these new resources. You can commit to evolving your practice with an expanded base of knowledge and tools to improve care for your patients who use opioids. Learn more at ScalaNW.org/MOUD.