Pennsylvania Access Score: 61.3/100
Composite of methadone OTP density, buprenorphine provider density, mental health shortage need-met %, Medicaid coverage breadth, 1115 SUD waiver status, and legal protections. How we score.
Suboxone Providers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 838 active NPPES enumerations across 36 cities for clinicians who commonly prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. Coverage is wider than the old X-waiver lists suggested, but availability still varies clinic to clinic. Confirm intake before you drive anywhere.
CAA 2023 disclaimer. Buprenorphine X-waiver eliminated by Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023. Any DEA II-V prescriber may now prescribe buprenorphine.
Composite analysis
Treatment Access Pressure Index
Lower pressure9.8Rank 47 of 52
Pennsylvania ranks among the states with the least treatment access pressure on this index. Provider density is comparatively strong and acute demand signals are softer.
Mental health HPSA score (weighted)
11.38
0–25 scale. Higher means greater federally-designated shortage.
10,003,482 residents live inside designated mental health HPSAs.
Source: HRSA Data Warehouse
Frequent mental distress
—%
Population-weighted share of adults reporting 14+ days of poor mental health in the last month.
Source: CDC PLACES (BRFSS 2022)
Unemployment rate
4.2%
Seasonally adjusted state unemployment, used as a stress proxy.
Latest period: M02 2026.
Source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
Verified treatment density
6.99
Methadone OTPs plus buprenorphine prescribers per 100,000 residents. Higher density lowers pressure.
(68 OTPs, 838 bupren providers.)
Source: SAMHSA + CMS NPPES (CCIWA dataset)
TAPI is a CCIWA composite. Each input is z-scored across 50 states plus DC and Puerto Rico, then combined as a weighted sum (HPSA 30%, frequent mental distress 25%, unemployment 15%, treatment density 30%, sign-flipped). The result is rescaled 0 to 100 by percentile rank. Read the full methodology.
C
Score breakdown
| Component | Detail | Points |
|---|---|---|
| OTP density | 0.501 OTPs per 100K residents | 15 / 30 |
| Buprenorphine density | 6.47 providers per 100K | 5.2 / 20 |
| Mental health HPSA need met | 33.39% | 11.1 / 20 |
| Medicaid breadth | 5 of 5 service categories covered | 15 / 15 |
| 1115 SUD waiver | Active | 10 / 10 |
| Legal protections | Good Samaritan: Yes · Naloxone access: Yes | 5 / 5 |
Demand snapshot
4,757
Drug overdose deaths (2023)
CDC WONDER. YoY -9.3
28.4
Opioid deaths per 100K (age-adjusted)
CDC WONDER 2023
36.3
Opioid Rx per 100 residents
2024 · National avg 35.4
33.39%
Mental health HPSA need met
HRSA Q1 2026. No federal SUD-specific HPSA exists.
Medicaid coverage for buprenorphine
| Item | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine covered | Yes | Prior authorization may apply |
| Methadone covered | Yes | |
| Naltrexone covered | Yes | |
| Outpatient SUD | Yes |
1115 SUD waiver: Active. IMD exclusion waived. Expires 2022-09-30 (current/prior period); renewal requested through 2027-09-30.
36 cities with buprenorphine providers
Cities below have at least 5 active prescribers. Smaller cities consolidate into the closest hub city for V1.
Philadelphia (147) Pittsburgh (68) Harrisburg (25) York (24) Lancaster (18) Erie (16) Allentown (13) Norristown (13) West Chester (12) Wilkes Barre (11) Kingston (9) Easton (9) Reading (8) Hanover (8) Scranton (8) Chambersburg (7) Johnstown (7) Bethlehem (7) Du Bois (6) Williamsport (6) Waverly (6) Phila (6) New Castle (6) Washington (6) Uniontown (6) King Of Prussia (6) Doylestown (6) Wrightsville (5) Hershey (5) West Reading (5) Bryn Mawr (5) Media (5) Mechanicsburg (5) Bala Cynwyd (5) Monroeville (5) Yardley (5)