Last week, the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Department of Health and Human Services said they would temporarily extend telemedicine flexibility for prescribing certain controlled drugs. issued under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which expires May 11.
This week, the DEA added some specifics to that promise — allowing a six-month extension, through November 11, 2023, concurrently with the Mental Health and Abuse Services Administration. HHS’s substance abuse program, which promises an extended period for the virtual prescribing of certain drugs. controlled drug to last at least until November 2024.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said the agency has received more than 38,000 “record” comments on the proposed telemedicine rules and has responded with a corresponding extension.
On Tuesday, the American Telemedicine Association once again applauded agencies that have recognized the value of telehealth and telecare.
“The actions of ATA and ATA strongly commend actions taken by the DEA, along with SAMHSA, in temporarily expanding flexibility for the teleprescribing of clinically relevant controlled substances. for six months,” said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, public policy at ATA. ATA, and its executive director, ATA Action.
He noted that the ATA recognizes “the importance of continuum of care for these patients and responds appropriately and thoughtfully to the multitude of anxious Americans who commented on the previous draft rules.” there.”
The ATA outlined some of its arguments and made recommendations to update the proposed rules to maintain mechanisms to prevent diversion and at the same time ensure that patients do not lose access to services. treatments needed in two letters to federal agencies.
“It is especially important and encouraging that these actions include access to clinically relevant controlled prescriptions that patients need for a variety of medical conditions, including,” said Zebley. including mental health and substance use disorders”.
He added that ATA hopes federal agencies will use the extension to continue to address “unnecessarily restrictive barriers to equitable and appropriate clinical care, such as face-to-face visits are mandatory.”
Andrea Fox is the senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: [email protected]
Healthcare IT News is a publication of HIMSS Media.
