The Medication Access and Training Expansion (“MATE”) Act was signed into law on December 29, 2022. The Act applies to all “qualified practitioners” anticipating initial or renewal DEA registration on or after June 27, 2023. A qualified practitioner is someone licensed under state law to prescribe controlled substances (excluding veterinarians). As part of the DEA registration process, qualified practitioners must digitally certify their one-time completion of an approved 8-hour training program on opioid and substance abuse treatment.
How do Practitioners Fulfil the 8-Hour Training Mandate?
Some practitioners may find they have already met the mandate by:
- Holding a board certification in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry from the American Board of Medical Specialties, the American Board of Addiction Medicine, or the American Osteopathic Association.
- Graduating in good standing from an accredited U.S. medical school, dental school, PA program, or APRN school within the past 5 years, and completing a curriculum with at least eight hours focused on treating and managing opioid or other substance abuse disorders.
Practitioners who do not meet the requirements specified in the preceding numbered paragraphs must obtain their MATE Act training through programs offered by the accredited groups listed in the DEA’s March 27, 2023 guidance memorandum.
Does Prior Training Satisfy the Requirement?
Prior training may fulfill the 8-hour requirement, as the law does not impose temporal restrictions. Notably, the aforementioned DEA guidance states that training received from accredited organizations prior to December 29, 2022 will satisfy the MATE Act requirement, and that training may be accomplished in a variety of formats and in multiple sessions.
The DEA registration/renewal certification does not require practitioners to provide supporting documentation, but it is wise to maintain records in the event of an audit. Note that individual states may impose separate training requirements for prescribing controlled substances.
