The Biden administration wants to limit what drugs can be prescribed through telemedicine appointments, proposing doctors must evaluate patients in person before authorizing some controlled substances.
The Drug Enforcement Administration proposed the rule change in a statement on Friday, seeking to reverse rules that were approved during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed doctors to prescribe drugs to patients virtually. Now the DEA is seeking to rein back that power, specifically for drugs that can lead to addiction.
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“Medication for opioid use disorder helps those who are fighting to overcome substance use disorder by helping people achieve and sustain recovery, and also prevent drug poisonings,” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said. “The telemedicine regulations would continue to expand access to buprenorphine for patients with opioid use disorder.”
The new rules would classify controlled medications into five categories based on their medical use and potential for abuse, according to the DEA. The changes would make it harder for patients to access some painkillers and mental health medications such as Oxycodone and Adderall, which would require patients to visit their doctors in person for a prescription.
Doctors could prescribe other drugs, such as Ambien and Xanax, through telehealth appointments for 30 days — but would require an in-person evaluation if the patient requests a refill.
The changes come as the country has continued to report an increase in drug overdose deaths in recent years. Nearly 106,700 people died from drug overdose deaths in 2021, a 16% increase from the year before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Doctors first began relaxing rules surrounding telehealth prescriptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding access to medications and virtual appointments amid nationwide lockdown restrictions. However, some health offices came under scrutiny for the way they prescribed controlled substances such as Adderall.
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“The permanent expansion of telemedicine flexibilities would continue greater access to care for patients across the country, while ensuring the safety of patients,” Milgram said. “DEA is committed to the expansion of telemedicine with guardrails that prevent the online overprescribing of controlled medications that can cause harm.”
The DEA’s proposal is subject to a 30-day period during which the public can submit their feedback to the new changes.
