DEA Introduces New Telemedicine Rules to Expand Access While Strengthening Patient Protections, Including Substance Use Disorder Treatment

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has introduced three new telemedicine rules to maintain the accessibility of telehealth services while ensuring patient safety. These rules make certain measures established during the COVID-19 public health emergency permanent to ensure patients continue to receive necessary treatments. 

The rules apply only in cases where patients have not had in-person visits with a provider and are being prescribed a controlled substance. If a patient has already had an in-person visit with a medical provider, telemedicine prescribing remains unrestricted. Additionally, telemedicine visits that do not involve prescribing controlled substances are unaffected by these rules.

Key Highlights:

1. Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine:

   • Patients can now receive a six-month supply of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, through a telemedicine consultation. After this period, an in-person visit with a healthcare provider is required for further prescriptions.

     
     

2. Special Registrations for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations:

   • The DEA is introducing special registrations that allow healthcare providers to prescribe Schedule III-V controlled medications remotely via telemedicine without an initial in-person evaluation, including medications such as buprenorphine. An Advanced Telemedicine Prescribing Registration is available which allows specialized providers, such as psychiatrists, hospice care physicians, and pediatricians, to issue telemedicine prescriptions for Schedule II-V medications. 

   • The regulation will also require establishing a national Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), which will allow medical practitioners and pharmacists nationwide to track patient’s prescription history to enhance oversight and reduce diversion. 

     
     

3. Continuity of Care for Veterans Affairs (VA) Patients:

   • In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the DEA has established an exemption from the special registration requirements for VA providers and patients. The rule allows that after a patient has undergone an in-person medical examination by a VA medical provider, the provider-patient relationship extends to all VA practitioners involved in the patient's telemedicine care without additional restrictions This ensures continuity of care for veterans who rely on VA healthcare services, particularly those receiving SUD treatment through VA programs.

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These rules are designed to balance the convenience of telemedicine with the necessary safeguards to prevent medication misuse. The DEA emphasizes its commitment to providing telehealth access to necessary medications while ensuring patient safety and preventing the diversion of medications into the illicit drug market.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the DEA's official announcement.