Don’t Let Kentucky Roll Back Access to Lifesaving Treatment.

Earlier this year, after an unprecedented amount of public comment, the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML) halted their harmful changes to buprenorphine access – kicking off what would become multiple months worth of back and forth between the Board and the Kentucky General Assembly.

But our opposition and government gridlock was not enough to fully stop these regulations. After being rejected by the legislative committee — the proposed regulations are in the hands of the KBML once again. This means they are being given yet another chance to revise and resubmit injurious policies that will cause more harm than good.

We’ve stopped them once, and now we must do it again — We can’t tire in the face of the unwavering determination of the KBML to pass these bad policies. It’s time to make your voice heard on this issue one more time to protect access to addiction treatment by letting your representatives know that we will not settle for what the KBML is offering.

The KBML knows that these regulations are harmful. The proposed changes do not address the many unnecessary, burdensome, and stigmatizing requirements that can prevent people from receiving lifesaving care. Instead, they will keep the status quo and impose significant barriers that will cause more harm than good. This includes:

unreasonable treatment visit requirements
unnecessary mandatory counseling
excessive drug testing
dosages that are often inadequate for the individual's treatment needs
punitive responses to “non-compliance”

It is essential to remove these barriers and adopt patient-centered regulations that align with evidence-based practices.

Sign the petition and send a message to your lawmakers that makes one thing clear: we need less obstacles — not more — to the life saving medication that is buprenorphine.

Send a message to Kentucky lawmakers today!

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Dear Distinguished Member of the Kentucky General Assembly,

I am a resident of Kentucky writing to share my deep concerns about the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure’s (KBML) proposed changes to buprenorphine regulations for treating opioid use disorder.

These rules retain and increase unnecessary, burdensome, and stigmatizing barriers to treatment that could put lives at risk in the middle of an overdose crisis.

I respectfully ask that the General Assembly exercise its oversight role and continue to urge the KBML to revise or repeal these regulations. Some of the most troubling provisions include:

Excessively Frequent Visits: Mandating visits — every 10 days for the first month, every 14 days the second month, and monthly for two years — fails to consider individual patient needs. This rigid schedule creates serious obstacles for Kentuckians with jobs, caregiving duties, or limited access to transportation — making it harder for people to stay in treatment.

Mandatory Counseling Requirements: Tying medication access to counseling or 12-step participation is not supported by clinical evidence. While counseling can help some, requiring it for all patients creates unnecessary hurdles and discourages people from starting or staying in care.

Overly Frequent Drug Testing: Weekly or monthly drug testing far exceeds what’s required for other forms of treatment like methadone and adds cost, logistical strain, and stigma — without improving outcomes.

Inadequate Dosing Limits: Capping initiation doses at 4mg and daily doses at 16mg is out of step with best practices and could increase the risk of relapse or overdose. Clinicians need flexibility to treat patients based on their medical needs.

Punitive Responses to “Non-Compliance”: Increasing appointments or drug testing as punishment for missed doses or positive tests can backfire — pushing people away from treatment rather than supporting their recovery.

As a Kentuckian, I urge you to stand up for evidence-based care and advocate for regulations that prioritize patient health, dignity, and access. Kentucky is in the midst of an overdose crisis, and we cannot afford policies that make it harder — not easier — for people to get the care they need.

Thank you for your time and service to our community.