On March 28, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) released information concerning a new training requirement for all DEA-registered practitioners. The Medication Access and Training Expansion Act, included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, established a one-time, eight-hour training requirement “on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders.”

Practitioners can report completion of the new training requirement on their online DEA registration form starting June 27, 2023.

Through a series of Q&As, the letter explains to whom the requirement applies, deadlines for completion, mechanisms to meet the new training requirement, and which groups may provide training. Key takeaways for ACC members include:

• The training requirement applies to all ACC members with DEA registrations.
• Practitioners may affirm completion of the new training requirement on the next scheduled submission—whether initial or renewal—on or after June 27, 2023.
• This is a one-time requirement and does not have to be repeated.
• Practitioners who graduated from a medical, physician assistant or advanced practice nursing school in the United States within five years of June 27, 2023, and completed a comprehensive curriculum with at least eight hours of applicable training have satisfied the training and may affirm. This pathway will exist moving forward on a five-year rolling basis (e.g. residents completing DEA registration for June 27, 2025, will need to have received training in the prior five years to affirm completion based on completion of curriculum).
• For other practitioners, relevant past trainings may count toward the eight-hour requirement.
• A variety of accredited groups may provide training that will count toward the requirement. Some groups are curating their collections with an eye toward this requirement. The American Medical Association has already built a hub here.
• Future updates from the ACC will be posted to this page.

ACC is partnering with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) to provide ACC members with an affordable option to meet the new requirement. Use the discount code ACC30 to get 30% off ASAM’s Fundamentals of Addiction Medicine course. Other discounted or free resources may also be available through your state medical society, hospital, health system and/or practice group to help with meeting the new requirements.

Keywords: Patient Satisfaction, Physicians, Substance-Related Disorders, Schools, Curriculum, Analgesics, Opioid, United States, ACC Advocacy

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