DEA Plans to create a Special Telehealth Registration for Prescribers

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has released its notice of proposed rulemaking for a framework to permit medically necessary controlled substances without an in-person visit without violating the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act. The NPRM comes two months after the DEA and U.S. Health and Human Services announced they extended the pandemic-era virtual prescribing of controlled substances a third time. The most recent extension of COVID-19 flexibilities for prescribing runs through 2025.DEA's initial 2023 draft rule to make some telehealth prescribing flexibilities permanent would have required affected patients to have in-person exams, but a litany of healthcare industry groups and observers argued a return to pre-pandemic prescribing rules would risk patient harm.

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In 2023, the agency held TelemAccording to the American Hospital Association, the final rule will allow providers to prescribe a six-month initial supply to treat opioid use disorder via audio-only telemedicine interaction without a prior in-person evaluation.According to the American Hospital Association, the final rule will allow providers to prescribe a six-month initial supply to treat opioid use disorder via audio-only telemedicine interaction without a prior in-person evaluation.

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