The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has submitted its long-awaited final telehealth prescribing rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for regulatory review, showing the first step towards a permanent framework for remote prescribing of controlled substances. The rule is intended to replace the temporary extensions first given during the COVID-19 pandemic for prescribing controlled substances through telehealth. Although the language hasn’t been released, policy journalists have shared a few insights. Here’s what we’ve heard so far:

• The rule would establish a special registration pathway for registered clinicians to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine;
• It will try to balance patient access with fraud, diversion and misuse safeguards;
• The OMB began their review on August 25^th. Current telehealth prescribing flexibilities will remain in effect through December 31^st while the Agency completes its review.