Written and medically reviewed by Dorcas Morak, PharmD
Great news for Americans who rely on telemedicine for their medical needs! The DEA has announced proposed rules for permanent telemedicine flexibilities, which will allow broader access to necessary medications. The proposed rule was developed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to increase patient access to care nationwide while maintaining patient security.What does the proposed rule cover?
It focuses on a specific subset of telemedicine consultations: those conducted by a medical professional who has never performed an in-person evaluation of a patient AND resulted in the prescription of a controlled medication. Medical practitioners will be allowed to prescribe a 30-day supply of Schedule III-V non-narcotic controlled drugs and a 30-day supply of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
What is not covered under the proposed rule?
It's important to note that the proposed telemedicine rule will not cover certain aspects of telemedicine consultation. It will not cover telemedicine consultations during which no prescriptions for controlled substances are made, consultations by a physician who has previously examined a patient in person, or consultations and prescriptions by a physician to whom a patient has been referred provided that the referring physician has previously examined the patient in person.
What benefits will the proposed rule have?
The proposed telemedicine regulation has several benefits. It will improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services, provide Americans with greater access to necessary controlled medications, ensure patient safety by eliminating online overprescribing that can cause harm, and help people fighting substance use disorders get buprenorphine more easily. To learn more, visit one of the following links:
- Expansion of Induction of Buprenorphine via Telemedicine Encounter
- Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation The public has 30 days to evaluate and comment on the proposal before the DEA drafts the final regulations, so make your voice heard and take part in shaping the future of telemedicine!
