For the last decade, overdose has been a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in Colorado. Colorado providers have a unique opportunity to aid persons struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD) during the vulnerable perinatal period.
Buprenorphine can be prescribed during routine clinical care, including primary care, family practice, psychiatry, and the emergency department, to treat individuals with prescription opioid or heroin addiction, including during pregnancy and postpartum. With the increasing prevalence of maternal OUD and overdose deaths in the state, it is imperative that treatment resources for these patients increase.
However, there is a shortage of providers in Colorado who are able to prescribe buprenorphine treatment for patients with OUD, and even fewer trained to care for the perinatal population.
To address this need, the Practice Innovations in Opioid Management at the CU Department of Family Medicine is offering a stipend for Colorado providers who invest the time to take the waiver training to get their DEA X waiver. Those who complete a waiver training course and receive their waivers from DEA by September 30 will be eligible to receive up to $1000 in compensation.
Take the Perinatal Waiver Training Course
Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative (CPCQC), a statewide nonprofit network of hospitals, healthcare facilities, clinicians and public health professionals that improves the health of women and infants through continuous quality improvement, is strongly encourage providers serving perinatal patients to take the training co-developed by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder Course.
The course covers all medications and treatments for opioid use disorder with an added focus on care during the perinatal period. This hybrid course provides 4 hours of live, virtual training supplemented by the required 20 additional hours for CNMs, NPs and PAS, or 4 additional hours for MDs and DOs, needed to obtain the waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. The additional hours beyond the live course are offered online and on-demand so that providers may finish at their own pace.
Course Hours and Incentives:
- For CNMs, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants: 24 total hours of training – $1000 in compensation.
- For MDs or DOs: 8 total hours of training – $500 in compensation
Upon completion of the course and receipt of DEA waiver by September 30, Colorado practitioners will be able to receive their stipend.
The first 220 Colorado providers who receive their waivers before September 30 will be reimbursed on a first come, first served basis.
Register now before spots fill up!
OB-Focused Online Waiver Training:
Wed, June 24, 7:00 am – 11:30 am MT.
Register
Additional ACOG/ASAM online courses will be offered. However, due to COVID-19 constraints, registration links are not yet posted. Please mark your calendars and check back for course registration links for the following sessions:
Option 2: Fri, July 10, 7:00 am – 11:30 am MT
Option 3: Mon, July 27, Time TBD.
If you are interested in taking the OB-focused training at any time, including at dates listed above OR at future dates, please complete this form to receive compensation and any new dates that may arise!
Want to learn more? Attend one of CPCQC optional Info Sessions on Waiver Training:
Agenda: Colorado overview, waiver process/requirements, education options, reimbursement, Q&A
Thurs, June 4 at 6:00 pm MT (30 minutes) – CLICK TO REGISTER.
Recording of Info Session held on Tues, May 26 here, Password: 2I#@znxf
Additional Training Opportunities:
Providers serving the perinatal population are strongly encouraged to take the OB-focused training described above, however, providers who complete any approved waiver training are eligible for the stipends.
Options for non-perinatal focused waiver training include:
- Any of the upcoming hybrid courses (4 hours of live instruction, remainder self-paced)
- 100% self-paced, online training options (no live instruction). See options under “Step 1 – Get Trained” here.
If you are interested in any of the training options listed in this email, including non-OB specific, please complete this form to receive instructions on how to receive compensation and any future training dates!
Let’s do our part to aid Colorado families struggling with opioid use disorder.
Consider attending the course to boost much-needed treatment resources within and across our communities.