How many patients may a practitioner treat for addiction at one time without exceeding limits?

The limit for how many patients a practitioner can treat for opioid addiction at one time depends on the specific classification of their waiver. For practitioners with a standard DATA 2000 waiver, they are allowed to treat up to 30 patients at one time in their first year of being waivered. This limit is designed to ensure that practitioners can provide adequate care and management without overextending their capabilities.

Once a practitioner has been treating 30 patients for a year, they can apply to increase that limit up to 100 patients, but only if certain qualifications are met, such as having experience in treating substance use disorders. Therefore, the correct response reflecting the initial maximum number of patients a practitioner can treat for addiction without exceeding limits is indeed 30 patients.

Understanding this regulation is crucial for practitioners who wish to remain compliant with federal guidelines while providing necessary treatment for those struggling with addiction.