7,225 patients registered seeking a certified physician that matched their needs.4,880 were sucesfully offered treatment by at least one physician. 175 patients were still pending on 9-1-2007 and 2,170 had opted out of the program. Of the opt outs 1,315 were still contacted by at least one physician.

“The challenge remains making patients aware of this free service. The system, even with only its current participating physicians, could connect 10,000 patients in 2008. Help is here, and in most parts of the country there is no longer a waiting list.”

–Timothy Lepak, president of NAABT, Inc.

• Map of participating physician’s office locations

• Map of patients currently seeking treatment  

• Real-time statistics for the matching system

• Patient registration for the matching system

• NAABT Home page

National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment www.NAABT.org  nationwide Patient Physician Matching System (PPMS)

4,880 patients matched to buprenorphine prescribing physicians in the first year.

The online system is a non-intimidating 24/7 anonymous way for patient seeking buprenorphine treatment to connect with an appropriate certified physician in their area that has an opening, matches the patient’s needs, and ability to pay for treatment.

From  9/1/2006—9/1/2007 7,225 patients had registered. 4,880 (66%) have been offered treatment by at least one of the 1,308 participating physicians.

Presumably the 4,880 are patients who were unable to find treatment through other means and might not have found treatment at all if not for the free online service.

Long waiting lists existed prior to the launch of the list. Now, some patients in metropolitan areas are contacted within minutes of submitting their anonymous registration, and most others within days. Unfortunately, there are still a few areas, like Vermont and Spokane WA, where patients have waited for months without contact from a physician.

Physicians reluctant to be listed publicly on the SAMHSA list, can still use the system to contact patients that best fit their practice and expertise. 

Counselors/ advocates/ help-lines / social workers, can submit a registration on behalf of patients without computer access, and simply inform the patient with the good news when a physician with capacity to treat them replies.

Patients are invited to fill out an online survey a few weeks after they have been contacted by a physician. (475 answered)

• Do you have insurance or other means to pay for treatment? 84% Yes
• Do you currently see a counselor? 71% Yes.
• Are you employed? 61% Yes.
• Do you attend 12 step meetings. 67% No.
• Would you attend meetings if they were not based on the 12-step program? 69% Yes.
• Were you treated like a patient or a drug addict? 90% “Patient”
• Do you feel that your life has improved since you started Buprenorphine? 93% Yes.