Premier Urges Flexibility for Prescribing of Controlled Substances Via Telehealth

Consistent with past advocacy efforts, Premier joined more than 200 other organizations in urging swift action by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to issue a revised proposed rule to provide flexibility for prescribing controlled substances via telehealth. With current flexibilities for telehealth expiring at the end of 2024 and the persistent shortage of healthcare professionals in the mental health and substance use disorder treatment spaces, the groups underscored the urgency in expeditiously releasing updated regulations to preserve patients’ uninterrupted access to needed medical treatments offered through telehealth. The letter also calls attention to the need for the DEA to encourage more consistent definitions and aligned requirements from state regulatory bodies.