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RuleSignificant2023-224062023-10-10

Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications

Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Health and Human Services Department

Abstract

On March 1, 2023 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in concert with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), promulgated two notices of proposed rulemakings (NPRMs) soliciting comments on proposals to allow for prescribing of controlled medications pursuant to the practice of telemedicine in instances where the prescribing practitioner has never conducted an in-person medical evaluation of the patient. On May 10, 2023, following initial review of the comments received, DEA, jointly with HHS, issued a temporary rule (First Temporary Rule) extending certain exceptions granted to existing DEA regulations in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (COVID-19 PHE). These exceptions were granted in order to avoid lapses in care for patients. In particular, with respect to practitioner-patient relationships formed after the May 11, 2023, expiration of the COVID-19 PHE, the First Temporary Rule extended the temporary exceptions until November 11, 2023. In this second temporary rule, as DEA and HHS continue to consider revisions to the proposed rules set forth in the March 1, 2023 NPRMs and in light of Telemedicine Listening Sessions that DEA hosted on September 12 and 13, 2023, DEA and HHS are further extending such exceptions to existing DEA regulations for new practitioner-patient relationships through December 31, 2024.

Action & Dates

Action
Temporary rule.
Dates
As of November 11, 2023, the end of the effective period for the temporary rule published at 88 FR 30037 on May 10, 2023, is extended from November 11, 2024, to December 31, 2024. This rule is effective November 11, 2023.
Effective Date
2023-05-10

CFR References

Topics

Administrative practice and procedureDrug traffic controlPrescription drugs

Document Excerpt

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration 21 CFR Part 1307 [Docket No. DEA-407] RIN 1117-AB40 and 1117-AB78 Department of Health and Human Services 42 CFR Part 12 AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services. ACTION: Temporary rule. SUMMARY: On March 1, 2023 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in concert with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), promulgated two notices of proposed rulemakings (NPRMs) soliciting comments on proposals to allow for prescribing of controlled medications pursuant to the practice of telemedicine in instances where the prescribing practitioner has never conducted an in-person medical evaluation of the patient. On May 10, 2023, following initial review of the comments received, DEA, jointly with HHS, issued a temporary rule (First Temporary Rule) extending certain exceptions granted to existing DEA regulations in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (COVID-19 PHE). These exceptions were granted in order to avoid lapses in care for patients. In particular, with respect to practitioner-patient relationships formed after the May 11, 2023, expiration of the COVID-19 PHE, the First Temporary Rule extended the temporary exceptions until November 11, 2023. In this second temporary rule, as DEA and HHS continue to consider revisions to the proposed rules set forth in the March 1, 2023

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Related Documents

Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.

Full Document

Citation: 88 FR 69879