Dear Idaho Medicaid P&T Members:

We, the providers in Idaho that diagnose and treat patients who suffer from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), request that Sublocade be made available as a pharmacy benefit as a preferred agent in combating the Opioid Crisis faces many patients in our great state of Idaho.

Sublocade is a unique formulation of buprenorphine form given as a once-a-month subcutaneous injection. This formulation provides many benefits not found in other formulations of buprenorphine, mainly no misuse, abuse, or diversion. Furthermore, the sustained high plasma concentration of buprenorphine (such as those provided from Sublocade) has additional benefits in reducing the Fentanyl effect, such as respiratory depression. Fentanyl is a highly addictive and dangerous synthetic opioid often mixed (laced) in most illicit opioids.

Patients who struggle with OUD find adherence to oral medications challenging, especially early in the road to recovery. Sublocade is unique because it allows the patients to be completely compliant with our treatment parameters while suppressing the likelihood of continued use (relapse).

Sublocade is far too valuable of a tool in the fight against the Opioid Crisis in Idaho not to allow us, medical providers, as a treatment alternative to our patients.

Thank you for your careful consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

The Medical Providers of Idaho.