Concerned over reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) plans to limit flexibilities allowing health care providers to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine, lawmakers from the House of Representatives pressed DEA Administrator Anne Milgram for more details in an October 11 letter.
Led by Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), lawmakers took issue with the agency’s work to create a special registration process for telemedicine prescribing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the DEA allowed for most controlled medicines, like ADHD medications, to be prescribed via telemedicine rather than in person.
As LeadingAge reported on October 14, DEA has extended the flexibilities twice, and appears poised to extend those flexibilities a third time.
The DEA has not said how long the third extension will be.
The current flexibilities are set to expire on December 31, 2024.
In the letter, lawmakers expressed concern about reports that the DEA ultimately has plans to limit telemedicine prescribing and the misalignment with legislative intent of the registration program as well as the potential to hurt patient access to necessary drugs.
Furthermore, the letter voices concern regarding time running out for DEA to finalize the rule before it reverts back to pre-COVID prescribing requirements on December 31, 2024.
