DEA to host listening sessions on telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances

The Drug Enforcement Administration will host public listening sessions Sept. 12-13 to receive additional input on whether to permit telemedicine prescribing for certain controlled substances without any in-person medical evaluation, and data or other safeguards to prevent and detect their diversion. Registration for in-person attendance and for organizations wishing to make oral presentations opens Monday. Oral presentations may be 
given in-person or by video teleconference. Registrations are due Aug. 21. DEA will also livestream the listening sessions online.

The DEA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in May released a temporary rule extending telehealth prescribing flexibilities for buprenorphine and other controlled substances through Nov. 11, 2024, while they develop final regulations, as urged by the AHA. Among other changes, AHA has urged the DEA to establish a special registration process (as statutorily mandated) to waive the in-person evaluations for practitioners who register with the agency.