Advocacy Alert: DEA Announces New Telemedicine Rules
January 23, 2025
via United States Drug Enforcement Administration
On January 16, 2025, the DEA announced three new rules to make some temporary telemedicine flexibilities permanent. The rules, established during the COVID-19 public health emergency, will also establish new patient protection.
The DEA focused on accessibility for the patient in developing these rules. They do not apply to telemedicine visits where a patient already has been seen by a medical provider in person. Additionally, the telemedicine rules don't apply if the visit doesn't involve the patient being prescribed medications. The rules only apply if the patient hasn't been seen by the medical provider and being prescribed controlled medication.
The rules will expand buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine, have special registrations for telemedicine and limited state telemedicine registration, and continuity of care via patients of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Per the announcement, "The new rules were developed in consultation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and after significant input from the public. DEA received input during public listening sessions that were hosted by DEA in September 2023. Healthcare practitioners, experts, advocates, and patients shared their experiences and recommendations. DEA also carefully reviewed and considered the more than 38,000 comments from the public in response to the original draft rule that was proposed on March 1, 2023. As a result of the comments and listening session, DEA has now made significant revisions to the draft rules."
Read the full announcement here.
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