Legislation and regulation

Current Projects

  • Changes in Buprenorphine Prescribing Following the Elimination of the Drug Enforcement Administration X Waiver Requirement
    The Drug Enforcement Administration requirement for an X waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder was lifted in January 2023. This study aims to describe if and how this policy change has impacted the prescribing practices of clinicians and medication treatment access for patients with opioid use disorder.
    Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Health services, Healthcare access, Legislation and regulation, Mental and behavioral health, Nurses and nurse practitioners, Physician assistants, Physicians, Substance use and treatment, Workforce
  • Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Laws and Their Effect on Pediatric Ambulatory Care Sensitive Condition (ACSC)-Related Emergency Department Visits
    This project aims to identify trends and predictors of pediatric ambulatory care sensitive conditions as they relate to patients in urban and rural settings whose nurse practitioners are allowed full practice under the license authority of the state board of nursing. Trends will be compared to those in jurisdictions that do not allow full practice of nurse practitioners.
    Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Healthcare access, Legislation and regulation, Nurses and nurse practitioners