{"id":876037,"date":"2026-06-18T14:28:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T14:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/876037\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T14:28:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T14:28:16","slug":"philadelphia-providers-share-policy-barriers-to-opioid-use-disorder-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/876037\/","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia Providers Share Policy Barriers to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although the number of unintentional overdose deaths in Philadelphia is estimated to have reached its lowest point in recent years<\/a>\u00a0in 2025, the crisis is far from over. Opioid use disorder (OUD) remains a significant challenge for Philadelphia, affecting individuals and communities throughout the city. Many residents still grapple with the health impacts<\/a> of opioid use, and its influence is deeply felt: 1 in 3 Philadelphians<\/a>\u00a0knows someone who has died from an overdose, and even more are familiar with someone who uses opioids.<\/p>\n

Buprenorphine, one of three Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for opioid use disorder, can reduce the risk of overdose and improve health and treatment outcomes<\/a> for individuals with OUD. But access to treatment varies significantly by provider<\/a>\u00a0throughout the city, and few people<\/a> receive evidence-based care relative to the number of individuals who could benefit from it.<\/p>\n


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A recently published University of Pennsylvania Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (Penn LDI) study<\/a> examined treatment providers\u2019 perspectives on the barriers that people who use opioids face in accessing and continuing to receive care. The study, funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, involved interviews with 28 OUD providers in Philadelphia, including physicians, therapists, and other staff members, between December 2022 and July 2023.<\/p>\n

All providers were from outpatient facilities that provide buprenorphine as a treatment option. And they were asked to describe their medication prescribing practices and discuss how various policies, payment structures, and regulatory requirements helped or hindered their ability to provide low-barrier, evidence-based care.<\/p>\n


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Some state, insurance, and treatment program policies and requirements<\/a>\u2014such as frequent mandatory visits, strict counseling requirements, medication restrictions, and zero-tolerance abstinence policies\u2014are not patient-centered. And those practices can make it difficult for people to access the care they need when they need it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s crucial to simplify access to buprenorphine care<\/a>. Using low-barrier approaches\u2014such as prescribing buprenorphine at the first visit, having fewer requirements for receiving medication, and not considering a return to opioid use as a reason for dismissal from care\u2014can help individuals initiate and remain in treatment.<\/p>\n

Among the study\u2019s key findings:<\/p>\n