WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) today sent a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram voicing support for the agency’s temporary rules allowing patients to continue to be prescribed controlled substances via telemedicine, as clinically appropriate, and advocating for swift issuance of a final rule that fulfills DEA’s mission while prioritizing patient access.
In the letter, the Members write: “The pandemic has demonstrated the value of telehealth in increasing access to clinically appropriate care, and DEA now has the opportunity to continue the benefits of telehealth while ensuring operationally feasible guardrails…Health care providers, pharmacists, and patients deserve to have a formalized process focused on patient access to clinically appropriate care while allowing DEA to fulfill its enforcement obligations.”
The Members continue: “We urge DEA to work diligently towards a finalized regulatory framework for the prescribing of controlled substances via telemedicine, understanding that time is of the essence…We are confident that a permanent regulatory framework for telemedicine prescribing can increase access to care.”
This letter comes after delays from the DEA in creating a Special Registration for Telemedicine process, as mandated by Congress, and emphasizes the need for clarity as current protections for patients and providers expire on December 31, 2024.
Read the full letter here.
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