We know many of you are finding your way through the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (COVID-19 PHE) and shifting from traditional in-person healthcare practice settings to telemedicine encounters with your patients. We understand that telemedicine presents a significant challenge on many levels, especially when controlled medication is part of the treatment plan. For these reasons, we are dedicating this issue of The Paradigm Shift to telemedicine and controlled substance prescribing. We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) based on input from our clients and sales representatives. We hope you find our educational responses and cited resources helpful. If you have a topic you would like us to discuss or a question, let us know. We look forward to working together to get through these challenging times!
FAQ 1 – Does DEA allow me to prescribe controlled substances to a patient during a telemedicine encounter? Does it matter whether the patient is new or established?
Yes. Federal law permits controlled substance prescribing via telemedicine platform, but only during the COVID-19 public health emergency (COVID-19 PHE), and only if the prescriber meets the remaining DEA standards (shown below). DEA recently published a decision-tree to help registrants understand DEA’s position on controlled substance prescribing via telemedicine; The decision tree covers new and established patients.
RESOURCE: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/GDP/(DEA-DC-023)(DEA075)Decision_Tree_(Final)_33120_2007.pdf.
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