Organizations Ask For Removal of Telehealth Restrictions

According to a recent press release, 72 organizations asked the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via a letter to permanently waive the requirement that patients receive an in-person evaluation before being prescribed controlled substances via telemedicine.

The release states that “The organizations, convened by the American Psychiatric Association, the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), and ATA Action submitted the letter to the DEA as it is currently developing the Special Registration process for the use of telemedicine to prescribe controlled substances under the Ryan Haight Act.”

On Jan. 26, we reported that the ATA announced that it had launched ATA Action, its new affiliated trade organization focused on ensuring individuals have permanent access to telehealth services across the care continuum.

That said, “During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the DEA used its authority to waive this requirement, enabling clinicians to safely prescribe controlled substances remotely via telehealth. This helped patients access clinically appropriate medications, including for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. In the letter, the organizations express concern that, when the public health emergency waiver ends, many patients, especially new patients, will be left without access to care.”

The letter is asking the DEA and HHS to work with Congress to remove the requirement of individuals to be evaluated in person after the pandemic. The letter also asks the DEA to remove any restrictions on the patient’s location in the Special Registration process.

Kyle Zebley, vice president, public policy, ATA and executive director, ATA Action, was quoted in the release saying that “It is essential that the DEA and HHS work with Congress to permanently remove the prior in-person requirement and any restrictions on the location of the patient, post pandemic. We urge policymakers to consider that, during the pandemic, telemedicine effectively increased access to necessary care for patients in their home or other location, without increased diversion related to the waiver. We welcome the opportunity to discuss a proposed framework to ensure Americans maintain access to clinically appropriate care.”

On Feb. 2, we reported that the ATA announced that 336 organizations sent a letter to Congress urging the facilitation of a pathway to comprehensive, permanent telehealth reform after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.