Increasing Access to Buprenorphine in Safety-Net Primary Care Clinics: The New York City Buprenorphine Nurse Care Manager Initiative

The Buprenorphine Nurse Care Manager Initiative (BNCMI) sought to increase access to opioid use disorder treatment in underserved New York City populations by expanding buprenorphine treatment capacity in safety-net primary care clinics. During 2016 to 2020, BNCMI added 116 new buprenorphine providers across 27 BNCMI clinics, and 1212 patients were enrolled; most patients identified as Latinx or Hispanic and were Medicaid beneficiaries. BNCMI increased access to buprenorphine, reached underserved populations, and is part of the New York City Health Department's multipronged approach to reducing opioid overdose deaths.