The DEA suggested changes to its telemedicine flexibilities to limit overprescription of addictive schedule II drugs and narcotics|Psiĥedelisto|CC0 1.0
Soon you might have to physically visit your doctor to get a refill or prescription of medications like OxyContin, Adderall, Xanax, Ambien, etc.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) suggested changes Friday to its telemedicine flexibilities to limit the overprescription of addictive schedule II drugs and narcotics.
Covid-era flexibilities
COVID-19 created a public health emergency when patients could not visit doctors frequently.
The DEA relaxed telehealth rules to provide people access to life-saving drugs like insulin, birth control, cholesterol medications, and blood pressure medications, among others.
This also meant that commonly abused drugs like Vicodin, OxyContin, Adderall and Ritalin were just a phone ring away.
Why the proposal?
The US is already struggling with an opioid crisis and increased fentanyl overdose deaths and pandemic-time flexibilities fuelled the crisis to some extent. Some telehealth companies also misused it by overprescribing medications like Adderall.
The changes proposed by the DEA will not affect Pandemic-era relaxations to life-saving drugs. The public has 30 days to provide feedback before the administration drafts its final regulation.