The DEA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services planned to roll out new rules earlier this week to make it easier for veterans to get certain controlled substances via telemedicine. But a recent directive from the Trump administration has delayed them.
The first rule expands access to buprenorphine, a common medication used to treat opioid use disorder, without an in-person visit. Registered providers would have more flexibility to prescribe it without an in-person visit, through an audio-only phone call.
The second opens up more controlled medications that VA doctors can prescribe to more veterans remotely.
Both policies would have gone into effect earlier this week, but are now in limbo until at least the end of March.
While the new rules are on hold, pandemic-era flexibilities around telemedicine prescriptions will remain in place through the end of the year. But now, the DEA is asking for public feedback on pushing the changes back even further while they’re up for review.
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