Good afternoon,
We wanted to let our members know that the DEA just put out a statement indicating that they will be temporarily extending COVID-era flexibilities that allow certain providers to prescribe controlled substances virtually. NAHC previously submitted comments to DEA expressing our concern that ending these flexibilities at the end of the PHE would be premature, and especially problematic for hospice and palliative care patients who often need quick and timely access to certain controlled substances in order to address pain and symptom burden. DEA also received a record 38,000 comments from stakeholders across the health care and consumer landscape on their proposed rule to end these flexibilities. It is clear that collective advocacy pushback resulted in this temporary extension.
See statement here: Statement from the DEA Administrator Anne Milgram on COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
Last week, DEA & HHS submitted a draft Temporary Rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) entitled "Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications." NAHC and other stakeholders believed that this OMB notice was likely indication that DEA was going to extend the flexibilities, but that was not confirmed until this official DEA announcement today. DEA says that "further details about the rule will become public after its full publication in the Federal Register". NAHC will continue to monitor and update members as more information becomes available.
Thanks,
------------------------------
Davis Baird
Director of Government Affairs, Hospice
National Association for Home Care & Hospice
Washington DC
(202) 547-7424
------------------------------