Introduced as a response to the ongoing opioid crisis, the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act formalizes the need for enhanced education among healthcare providers, including anesthesia professionals. This legislation mandates comprehensive training for those who prescribe controlled substances, ensuring they are equipped to manage pain effectively while minimizing the risks of opioid misuse and addiction.
The MATE Act was incorporated into the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 and applies to all Drug Enforcement Administration-registered practitioners, including anesthesia professionals like anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The law mandates that healthcare professionals complete training on substance use disorder prevention and treatment as part of their Drug Enforcement Administration registration or renewal process.
For anesthesia professionals, this requirement reinforces the importance of understanding opioid pharmacology, pain management alternatives, and strategies to prevent opioid dependency in surgical patients. Given their role in perioperative care, anesthesiologists and CRNAs are often responsible for delivering adequate pain relief while mitigating the risk of opioid misuse 1,2.
Under the MATE Act, anesthesia professionals must complete at least eight hours of training on opioid and substance use disorders. The training can be obtained through accredited organizations such as medical schools, professional societies, or institutions recognized by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This requirement must be fulfilled before a Drug Enforcement Administration registrant can obtain or renew their license to prescribe controlled substances.
Courses generally cover topics such as the principles of pain management and opioid prescribing practices, the identification and treatment of substance use disorders, safe opioid tapering strategies and non-opioid pain management options, the role of medication-assisted treatment in opioid use disorder recovery, and/or strategies to prevent opioid diversion and misuse. For anesthesia professionals, compliance with these requirements is essential not only to maintain Drug Enforcement Administration licensure but also to enhance patient safety and contribute to broader efforts in combating the opioid epidemic 3–5.
Anesthesiologists and CRNAs are increasingly expected to participate in opioid stewardship programs within hospitals and surgical centers. These programs aim to establish best practices for opioid prescribing, monitor patient outcomes, and educate surgical teams on opioid-sparing techniques 6,7,7.
As anesthesia professionals adapt to the MATE Act requirements, continuous education and collaboration with pain management specialists will be crucial. Institutions are encouraged to provide accessible training resources and integrate opioid education into existing continuing medical education programs. By staying informed and proactive, anesthesia professionals can play a critical role in reducing opioid-related harm while maintaining effective pain management for their patients.
References
1. What is the MATE Act? American Medical Association https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/overdose-epidemic/what-mate-act (2023).
2. The Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act FAQs. ACCME https://accme.org/resource/the-medication-access-and-training-expansion-mate-act-faqs/.
3. DEA opioid training requirements and the MATE Act explained with Sanjay Desai, MD. American Medical Association https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/overdose-epidemic/dea-opioid-training-requirements-and-mate-act-explained-sanjay (2023).
4. Association, A. M. How to Comply with the MATE Act and DEA Training Requirement on the AMA Ed Hub. https://edhub.ama-assn.org/pages/comply-mate-act-dea-training-requirements.
5. Training Requirements (MATE Act) Resources. https://www.samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/mate-act (2024).
6. Brown, E. N., Pavone, K. J. & Naranjo, M. Multimodal General Anesthesia: Theory and Practice. Anesth Analg 127, 1246–1258 (2018). DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000003668
7. AAOMS: CE Online: Medication Access And Training Expansion (MATE) Act. https://ceonline.aaoms.org/MATEAct.