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  • Washington Highlights

    DEA Allows Practitioners to Prescribe Buprenorphine via Telemedicine

    Ki Stewart, Senior Policy and Regulatory Analyst
    For Media Inquiries

    The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Department of Justice, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services released a final rule in which the administration responded to comments submitted on the 2023 Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter proposed rule [refer to Washington Highlights, April 7].

    Beginning February 18, DEA-registered practitioners may prescribe an initial six-month supply of buprenorphine via audio-visual or audio-only telemedicine encounter. After the initial six-month supply, additional prescriptions of buprenorphine can be issued by the practitioner though a Special Registry or other approved telemedicine encounter [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan 17].” This final rule does not apply to patients who have received an in-person medical evaluation.

    Additionally, prior to prescribing buprenorphine, practitioners must review the prescription drug monitoring program data in the state where the patient lives and document the date and time of the review or note if the data was unavailable or inaccessible. The pharmacist must then verify the identity of the patient before filling the prescription.