An Act To Increase the Number of Suboxone Prescribers
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0114
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: MADIGAN, BREEN, AUSTIN, DOORE, O'NEIL, RYKERSON, SPEAR, TIPPING, WARREN
Amends: 32 MRSA §2594-E, 32 MRSA §2600-D, 32 MRSA §3270-E, 32 MRSA §3300-G

Legislative Document
No. 114
H.P. 82
House of Representatives, January 17, 2017
An Act To Increase the Number of Suboxone Prescribers
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MADIGAN of Waterville.
Cosponsored by Senator BREEN of Cumberland and Representatives: AUSTIN of 
Skowhegan, DOORE of Augusta, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, O'NEIL of Saco, RYKERSON 
of Kittery, SPEAR of South Thomaston, TIPPING of Orono, WARREN of Hallowell.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §2594-E, sub-§5, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 242, §3, is 
amended to read: 
D.  Scope of practice for physician assistants, including prescribing of controlled 
drugs and treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products; 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §2594-E, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6.  Waiver application for buprenorphine.  A physician assistant licensed and 
registered pursuant to this section whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid 
medication and who is authorized under federal law to be eligible for a waiver from the 
federal Drug Enforcement Administration for treating opioid dependency with 
buprenorphine products shall apply for the waiver for the purpose of treating opioid 
dependency with buprenorphine products. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §2600-D is enacted to read: 
§2600-D.  Waiver application for buprenorphine 
An individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes 
prescribing opioid medication shall obtain a physician waiver from the federal Drug 
Enforcement Administration for the purpose of treating opioid dependency with 
buprenorphine products.   
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §3270-E, sub-§5, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2015, c. 242, §5, is 
amended to read: 
D.  Scope of practice for physician assistants, including prescribing of controlled 
drugs and treating opioid dependency with buprenorphine products; 
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §3270-E, sub-§6 is enacted to read: 
6.  Waiver application for buprenorphine.  A physician assistant licensed and 
registered pursuant to this section whose scope of practice includes prescribing opioid 
medication and who is authorized under federal law to be eligible for a waiver from the 
federal Drug Enforcement Administration for treating opioid dependency with 
buprenorphine products shall apply for the waiver for the purpose of treating opioid 
dependency with buprenorphine products. 
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §3300-G is enacted to read: 
§3300-G.  Waiver application for buprenorphine 
An individual licensed under this chapter whose scope of practice includes 
prescribing opioid medication shall obtain a physician waiver from the federal Drug 
Enforcement Administration for the purpose of treating opioid dependency with 
buprenorphine products.   
Sec. 7.  MaineCare reimbursement rates for buprenorphine-medication-
assisted treatment of substance use disorder.  The Department of Health and 
Human Services shall increase reimbursement rates under the MaineCare program for 
buprenorphine-medication-assisted treatment, including prescriptions and accompanying 
behavioral health services, such as case management, counseling and drug testing, by 
30% no later than January 1, 2018. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires osteopathic and allopathic physicians whose scope of practice 
includes prescribing opioid medication to obtain a physician waiver from the federal 
Drug Enforcement Administration to treat opioid dependency using buprenorphine 
products.  It also requires physician assistants whose scope of practice includes 
prescribing opioid medication to apply for a waiver as long as they are authorized under 
federal law.  The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to 
increase reimbursement rates under the MaineCare program for buprenorphine-
medication-assisted treatment including prescriptions and accompanying services by 30% 
no later than January 1, 2018.