The Drug Enforcement Administration is set to extend rules that allow controlled substances to be prescribed through telehealth, Politico reported Oct. 15.
A final rule was submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget on Oct. 10, according to Politico. The proposal did not specify how long the extension would be for, the outlet reported.
Here are five things to know:
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, the DEA implemented several telehealth flexibilities, including allowing prescribing of controlled substances, including mental health treatments and medication for opioid use disorder.
- In August, Politico reported that the DEA was considering significantly curtailing telehealth prescribing of controlled substances.
- In a letter to President Joe Biden, 11 senators urged the DEA to again extend current rules to allow a final proposal to be developed.
"We appreciated the DEA’s extension of the telemedicine flexibilities through the end of the year while developing this proposal, but are concerned that the new policies would significantly restrict access to necessary and life-saving treatments," the senators wrote. - The senators expressed concern restricting telehealth prescribing would hinder access to buprenorphine and other addiction treatments.
- In September, more than 300 organizations sent a letter urging Congress to extend telehealth prescribing flexibilities for two years. The American Psychiatric Association and several mental health organizations were among the signers.