Can a doctor you haven’t seen prescribe controlled substances during coronavirus crisis?
Even though you may be in self-quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic, your doctor can still prescribe medication, even controlled substances deemed necessary, the Drug Enforcement Administration says.
There are some parameters that must be met, though, as outlined in a Friday DEA release.
These have been in place since the COVID-19 situation caused a Jan. 31 public health emergency declaration by Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar. The DEA started allowing registered medical professionals to prescribe controlled substances without an in-person diagnosis.
The diagnosis can’t be done by sound alone, however. Video must be involved.
What the DEA called “this telemedicine practice” can continue through the public health emergency so long as:
▪ “The prescription is issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a practitioner acting in the usual course of his/her professional practice.”
▪ “The telemedicine communication is conducted using an audio-visual, real-time, two-way interactive communication system.”
▪ “The practitioner is acting in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.”
This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 3:49 PM.
