Search Results for keywords:"controlled substances"

The final rule from the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services allows Veterans Affairs (VA) practitioners to prescribe controlled substances to VA patients via telemedicine without needing an in-person medical evaluation by the prescribing practitioner. This is permissible if another VA practitioner has conducted an in-person evaluation. This change provides greater access to care for veterans, especially those in rural or underserved areas, while still implementing safeguards against the misuse of controlled substances. The rule includes requirements for reviewing the patient's electronic health record and state prescription drug monitoring program data before prescribing.

In the Federal Register notice titled "Ibrahim Al-Qawaqneh, D.D.S.; Decision and Order," the DEA sought to revoke Dr. Ibrahim Al-Qawaqneh's registration due to his exclusion from federal health care programs after pleading nolo contendere to a charge of offering unlawful Medi-Cal remuneration. Despite being given a chance to defend himself, the DEA found that Dr. Al-Qawaqneh failed to take full responsibility for his actions, which led to doubts about his trustworthiness. Consequently, his DEA Certificate of Registration was revoked to ensure compliance with laws regulating controlled substances.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has proposed a new rule to allow healthcare practitioners to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine, without needing an in-person exam, through a Special Registration framework. This framework permits three types of special registrations: Telemedicine Prescribing Registration for Schedule III-V drugs, Advanced Telemedicine Prescribing Registration for Schedule II-V drugs for certain specialists, and Telemedicine Platform Registration for online platforms to dispense these drugs. These changes, which aim to expand patient access while safeguarding against drug abuse, also require practitioners to perform additional prescription checks and comply with detailed reporting and recordkeeping. Public comments on this proposal are welcome before final implementation.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has revoked the DEA registration of Xubex Community Pharmacy in Casselberry, Florida. This decision was made because the pharmacy dispensed controlled substances, specifically Schedule II drugs like oxycodone and hydromorphone, without prescriptions. The DEA considered these actions a threat to public health and safety, demonstrating that the pharmacy cannot be trusted to comply with legal requirements. Furthermore, the pharmacy did not request a hearing to dispute these conclusions, leading to the default revocation of its registration.

The Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seeking public comments on its information collection proposal related to electronic prescriptions for controlled substances. This collection is critical for verifying practitioners' identities and managing their access to prescription systems securely. Affected groups include businesses, non-profits, and government entities, required to respond mandatorily. The DEA estimates that the total annual time burden for respondents will be 107,733 hours, with no additional cost burdens. Comments on the proposal will be accepted until March 3, 2025.