Alliance Highlights the Importance of a Special Registration to Allow Continuity of Care for Patients

The Alliance for Connected Care appreciated the opportunity to testify for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) listening session on prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine on September 12, 2023.

We appreciate the DEA’s quick response during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) to allow prescribing via telemedicine. This was also a hugely meaningful expansion of access for Americans who had other barriers to accessing care. These include individuals who are frail, homebound or lack transportation, who live in areas with provider shortages, people of all kinds whose caregiving responsibilities serve as a barrier to care. We strongly support the development and implementation of a permanent policy for the prescribing of controlled substances though telemedicine to ensure these individuals do not lose access – as these are not challenges which will go away.

In our testimony, the Alliance discussed the importance of a special registration as the primary guardrail to identify and mitigate the risks of diversion in the prescribing of controlled substances through telehealth, and discuss implementation concerns for any proposed regulation.

Read the full testimony here.