How many patients can one addiction doctor treat simultaneously?

An addiction doctor, particularly those who are waivered to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, is subject to specific limits set by federal law. Under the Drug Addiction Treatment Act (DATA) of 2000 and its subsequent amendments, a qualifying practitioner can treat a certain number of patients at a time based on their certification level.

The correct answer of 100 reflects this allowance. Initially, a practitioner may treat up to 30 patients after obtaining a waiver. After a certain period and if they meet specific requirements, the practitioner can apply to increase their patient limit up to 100 patients simultaneously. This number is crucial for managing patient care effectively while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards aimed at combating substance abuse.

This regulatory framework aims to balance the need for access to treatment with the necessity of monitoring and ensuring quality of care, which is particularly significant in the context of addiction treatment. The other numbers, while they might represent limits under different circumstances or types of practices, do not apply to the general rule for waivered practitioners treating opioid-dependent patients in an outpatient setting.