July 24, 2023

Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) sent a letter to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on July 13, reaffirming congressional intent and asking that SAMHSA use its authority to approve additional training organizations for new or renewing DEA registrants. SAMHSA responded this week, confirming its refusal to act in spite of this reaffirmed congressional intent.

While this response from SAMHSA is disappointing, APMA’s Health Policy team will continue to engage HHS, CMS, and SAMHSA, and monitor for updates. APMA’s legislative team is working diligently with the American Academy of Family Physicians and others who were also left off the list of approved providers when the bill was passed into law last year. Draft legislation in being circulated among House and Senate offices for a “technical fix” to add our organizations to the list, and to direct SAMHSA to utilize its authority to recognize others as needed.

APMA members can read Representatives Trahan’s and Carter’s letter calling on SAMHSA to act, and are encouraged to visit the DEA MATE Act Compliance Resource Page for information on where to get training and more. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the APMA Health Policy and Practice department at healthpolicy.hpp@apma.org.