Tuesday, February 11, 2025
HomeHealth & ClimateDEA introduces guidelines for prescribing Adderall and Suboxone through telehealth services

DEA introduces guidelines for prescribing Adderall and Suboxone through telehealth services

“DEA Proposes Special Registration Process for Telemedicine Prescribers: What You Need to Know”

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced the creation of a special registration process for prescribers looking to provide controlled substances, such as opioids and stimulants used to treat ADHD, through telemedicine. This move comes after a 16-year delay in fulfilling a mandate issued by Congress in 2008. The new special registration system is currently a proposal, subject to potential changes by the incoming Trump administration.

The DEA’s new regulations include restrictions that have sparked immediate pushback from various stakeholders. For instance, providers seeking to prescribe Schedule II medications like Ritalin and Adderall would need to be physically located in the same state as their patients. Additionally, they would be required to issue at least 50% of their prescriptions after in-person appointments, which could pose challenges for telehealth providers.

The Alliance for Connected Care, a trade organization representing telehealth providers, expressed concerns about the proposed rulemaking, particularly regarding the limitations on patient care offered through telemedicine and the geographic restrictions that could hinder access for patients in need.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, emergency rules were enacted to allow greater flexibility in telehealth prescribing of controlled substances. However, the DEA’s efforts to implement new regulations post-pandemic have faced resistance, especially concerning buprenorphine, a Schedule III medication used to treat opioid addiction.

The DEA has also introduced a separate rule allowing prescribers to continue providing six months’ worth of buprenorphine without an in-person visit. This rule is set to take effect in mid-February and aims to address barriers to access for patients seeking buprenorphine treatment.

Despite the importance of medications like buprenorphine and methadone in combating the opioid crisis, they continue to face stigma and restrictions. The DEA’s new rules draw distinctions between buprenorphine and other controlled substances, reflecting a growing recognition of the medication’s low risk of overdose.

Stakeholders have raised concerns about the nationwide prescription drug monitoring program check requirement proposed by the DEA, highlighting the burden it could place on providers. The future of telehealth regulations and the DEA’s leadership remains uncertain, with potential implications for patients reliant on telemedicine for medication access.

Overall, the DEA’s new regulations mark a significant development in the ongoing efforts to regulate telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances, with implications for providers, patients, and the broader healthcare landscape.

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