E-Scripts for Controlled Substances Approved by DEA
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is preparing to allow electronic prescription of controlled substances. In pursuit of such, a proposed rule was submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Health Data Management published an article detailing the news of the proposed rule execution.
The DEA sent a letter to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) on February 1st stating that it had submitted the proposed rule to the DOJ. The rule requires review from both the DOJ and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) before it will be enacted. OMB has ninety days to respond.
Once the rule is approved, it will be integrated for publication in the Federal Register. At that time, a public comment period will be held and a final rule will be crafted by the DEA.
At this time, the DEA requires paper prescriptions for controlled substances, antidepressants, and some of the drugs that are used to treat children with asthma. Advocates for extending e-prescribing for these therapies suggest that allowing such will encourage more of the healthcare providers to adopt e-prescribing tools.
The DEA has been under increasing pressure to allow electronic prescribing of controlled substances, as described previously on HospitalBuyer. The DEA commenced an assessment of e-prescribing in March 2001. At that time, the agency issued an advanced notice of a proposed rule. As well, the U.S. Senate held a hearing last December to determine why there was a delay in DEA action on permitting e-prescribing for controlled substances.
February 12, 2008 Related topics: Legal & legislative