Comparing telemedicine to in-person buprenorphine treatment in U.S. veterans with opioid use disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telemedicine-delivered buprenorphine (tele-buprenorphine) can potentially increase access to buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we know little about use in clinical care.

Methods

This study was a retrospective national cohort study of veterans diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) receiving buprenorphine treatment from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in fiscal years 2012-2019. The study examined trends in use of tele-buprenorphine and compared demographic and clinical characteristics in patients who received tele-buprenorphine versus those who received in-person treatment only.

Results

Utilization of tele-buprenorphine increased from 2.29% of buprenorphine patients in FY2012 (n

SUBMITTER: Lin LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8627529 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature