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DEA

As RCPA previously communicated, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has extended the temporary COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities through December 31, 2025. These flexibilities enable prescribing of controlled medications via telemedicine. As such, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ (DDAP) suspension of 28 Pa. Code § 715.9(a)(4), which allows an initial evaluation for a person who will be treated by an opioid treatment program (OTP) with buprenorphine to be completed via telehealth, is also extended.

DDAP’s complete Information Bulletin 03-2024 is available here.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

This week, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) submitted a final rule regarding virtual prescribing of controlled substances to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Though the final rule is not yet publicly available, the OMB registry posting, titled “Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications,” suggests an extension is coming that will go beyond the current expiration date of December 31, 2024.

Without a new rule or extension of the current flexibility beyond December 31, virtual prescribing of controlled substances without a prior in-person evaluation would no longer be allowed.

DEA received more than 38,000 public comments following its proposed rule in February 2023 for telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances. Subsequently, the telehealth flexibilities were extended to the current December 31, 2024, expiration date.

RCPA will continue to monitor progress on the final rule and communicate the details of the final rule once it is made public.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will conduct in-person public listening sessions to receive additional input concerning the practice of telemedicine with regards to controlled substances and potential safeguards that could effectively prevent and detect diversion of controlled substances prescribed via telemedicine. Specifically, the DEA is inviting anyone interested to comment at the listening sessions about allowing telemedicine prescribing of certain controlled substances without an in-person medical evaluation.

The listening sessions will be held from 9:00 am – 5:30 pm on Tuesday, September 12, and Wednesday, September 13, at DEA Headquarters, 700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.

Those wishing to attend the listening sessions in person or give an oral presentation at the listening sessions must complete and submit the appropriate attendance form available at DEA’s Diversion Control Division website no later than August 21.

The listening sessions will also be livestreamed online.

Read the Department of Justice/DEA’s full letter for more details.