AHCA/NCAL, along with over 200 members of the Alliance of Connected Care, recently signed a letter to newly confirmed Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Administrator Terry Cole requesting his leadership ensure that millions of Americans continue to have access to medically necessary health care through telemedicine after the current regulatory access provisions deadline of December 31.The coalition letter includes two asks of the DEA:
- Engage directly with experts and stakeholders on policymaking that would continue access to telehealth while preventing diversion; and
- Ensure a plan is in place by the Fall of 2025 to prevent millions of Americans from losing access to their medical treatments in December of 2025.
Background
In January, the Biden administration’s DEA issued a proposed rule Special Registrations for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations that would severely restrict patient access to certain medications via telehealth needed to help persons with mental health conditions and those with substance abuse disorders. AHCA/NCAL and many other provider and patient advocacy groups opposed the proposed physician/practitioner registration process as being too complex, restrictive, and would result in significant access to timely care problems, especially in areas with severe shortages of clinicians licensed to prescribe such medications.
The proposed rule has not yet been finalized and could be rescinded or modified by the DEA Administrator. The current telehealth flexibilities are due to expire on December 31, 2025, absent updated regulations.