Over 100 nurse practitioners from around the country are gathering in Indianapolis June 18-23 for training in opioid addiction treatment, according to The CW network affiliate WISH-TV.
Four things to know:
1. The new training is the result of the Support for Patients and Communities Act signed by President Donald Trump in 2018, which allows nurse practitioners who complete specific training to obtain a permanent waiver for prescribing Medication Assisted Treatment to patients with opioid addiction.
2. The training in Indianapolis will allow participating nurse practitioners to get the waiver.
3. Nurse practitioners were previously limited in the number of patients to whom they could prescribe MAT. Many patients, especially in rural areas, faced barriers to treatment as a result.
4. People who lack proper addiction treatment often turn to desperate and even fatal measures, risking exposure to dirty needles and overdoses.