S-3550 : Still Just a Bill

The "Medication Access and Training Expansion Improvement Act" or the "MATE Improvement Act" (S.3550) amends Section 303 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 823) to clarify training requirements for prescribers of controlled substances. Specifically, the bill expands the list of organizations and educational programs that can provide the required training for prescribers.

• American Academy of Family Physicians, American Podiatric Medical Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Optometric Association, and Council on Podiatric Medical Education are added to the list of organizations that can accredit prescribers.
• American Academy of Family Physicians are added to the organizations whose fellows or members are considered to have met the training requirement.
• American Pharmacists Association, the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the American Academy of Nursing, and the American Academy of Family Physicians are added to the list of organizations that can provide required training.
• Expands the scope to include accredited schools of pharmacy.

The changes are retroactive, taking effect as if enacted on December 29, 2022.