Prior Authorization Exemption for Buprenorphine Heard in Senate Committee

April 9, 2026

An amended piece of legislation that would exempt buprenorphine from prior authorization (PA) was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 9. 

The MMA has advocated for years to prohibit PA for buprenorphine, arguing that delays in care caused by PA leads to serious adverse health impacts, including death. 

“Much of my day is taking care of patients with opioid use disorder,” testified Kurt DeVine, MD, FASM, on the bill (SF 3822 -Fateh, DFL – Minneapolis). “This problem of prior authorization is not new and the disruption to our office is the smallest part of this problem. The real problem is the delay in getting these medications approved and administered before patients relapse, overdose, or eventually die.” 

Buprenorphine is one of the most common treatments for opioid use disorder. The MMA has argued that timely access to these medications are critical to addressing both the human and economic costs of the opioid epidemic. Insurance barriers such as PA interrupt care at precisely the moment when timely access is most critical. 

The companion to SF 3822 was heard in the House Health Committee earlier this session and laid over for possible inclusion in a future health budget omnibus bill.