It’s likely that some changes will soon be made to how we get prescriptions online. In late February, the US Drug Enforcement Administration proposed changes to pandemic rules that will affect some controlled drugs that the government regulates more strictly once the COVID-19 public health emergency ends on May 11.
In short, patients who have been prescribed controlled medications during a pandemic will need to see their provider in person at least once to keep their prescription. New patients will still be able to get a monthly supply of many of these medications, but they will then need to see their provider in person.
The boom of telemedicine in the era of the pandemic has been a glimmer of hope for many people over the past three years, at least from the perspective of healthcare access. Along with the outbreak of new companies that deliver healthcare online, restrictions on how providers treat and prescribe controlled medications have been loosened, eliminating the need for a patient to see a face-to-face doctor for some major medications, including those for mental health and opioids. . addicted.
First, the good news: Prescriptions for many common medications and drugs will still be available via online counseling once the public health emergency is over. Common medications that people take to manage a health condition (insulin, blood pressure medications, birth control, etc.) will not be affected.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) suggests that the new rules, which include specific requirements for record-keeping by a telehealth provider, may help reduce the misuse of controlled drugs, which include common drugs like Adderall. While there are blind spots in telemedicine, wider access to telemedicine has made it possible to access health care for those who do not have an easy time meeting with a provider in person, including people who live in rural areas or who have difficulty with Take time off from work. While officials are keeping some aspects of telemedicine open, some experts worry that adding personal requirements or referrals will be a barrier for the many people who have benefited from telemedicine.
If they are finalized (nothing is set in stone now), the rules will change care for some patients, although there are things you can do to prepare. There is also a proposed grace period for people who were given prescriptions during the pandemic via telemedicine.
Here’s what we know.
During the pandemic, many people have embraced telemedicine services, including increasing access to healthcare for those who might not otherwise have it.
What the new DEA rules will (and won’t) affect
For now, the pandemic rules for telemedicine still apply — new rules may supersede them when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends May 11 (the DEA just concluded a public comment period, during which citizens and health and care groups offered opinions on The suggestion.) If they change, it will affect drugs differently depending on how they are scheduled: The DEA classifies them based on their perception of abuse potential and how the drug is used medically. Schedule I drugs are the most restrictive category and include drugs that you must buy illegally under many circumstances, including cannabis, LSD, and more. On the other hand, Schedule V medications include some pain relievers and cough medicines, such as Robitussin.
If the proposed rules go into effect and you have a prescription for a Schedule II drug, which includes Adderall and Ritalin, you will need to see your provider face-to-face in order to fill or refill the prescription. If you have not had a non-telemedicine visit with a provider, you will need to obtain a visit to continue your treatment.
For some common anxiety medications, ketamine at-home treatment, opioid abuse medications and more, new patients will be able to get a monthly supply of medication (30 days) but will need to find a personal provider to continue treatment and get a refill. This includes drugs such as Ambien, Xanax, and buprenorphine. Testosterone, which many transgender patients take as part of hormonal therapy, is also controlled and will require an in-person appointment. Estrogen is not a controlled drug.
Below is a list of controlled substances so you can know which class of drug you’re taking. Below is a chart the DEA has of proposed rule changes. To be sure of how your medications are labeled and how the rules will affect your specific situation, check with your prescriber.
Then comes some wiggle room. According to information from the Drug Enforcement Administration for medical practitioners, prescriptions written during the COVID-19 pandemic (since the public health emergency was first declared in 2020 until it expires next month) will have an additional 180 days to get a referral or in-person evaluation to keep. on your active prescription. This should apply to all medications, but check with your provider for specific details about prescriptions. (As with all rules in the proposal, this too may change with the final version.)
Many of the common medications that are prescribed to you in urgent care or by your family doctor (such as antibiotics, birth control and insulin) are not strictly regulated by the government and will not be affected by the changing rules, so you’ll still be able to get them via telemedicine. .
Changes in opioid use disorder medication
Buprenorphine is one of the few medications people can take to manage opioid use disorder, including heroin addiction. It is basically a weaker version of methadone. If the new rules go into effect, people who get their first prescription for buprenorphine will need to find a personal provider within a month in order to maintain their treatment — something that many addiction professionals have said is a barrier to critical treatment.
How will this affect online ADHD treatment or mental health medication?
During the pandemic, there has been a flurry of ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions online, especially among younger women. All sites including ADHD Online, Cerebral, and Done will have to adhere to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s rules for new prescriptions, should they go into effect later this spring.
According to the steps patients must take in order to keep their prescriptions active with their ADHD online, people with a prescription for something like Adderall are also likely to be part of a pandemic-inspired 180-day grace period, which means they have to be You have until early November to make an appointment or find a qualified “telemedicine referral” to stay a patient on site.
How to find a personal provider
Without the right connections, finding a provider capable of prescribing controlled medications can be difficult and expensive. As a good first step, contact your insurance company if you have health insurance and ask them to help guide you. You can also follow these medication tips below.
Find an ADHD Provider
If you are a new patient seeking a new prescription for stimulant medication (Schedule II drugs such as Adderall) after May 11, you will need to find a personal care provider who can diagnose and prescribe the medications.
Additude Magazine, a publication for people with ADHD, has published a guide to what patients should consider when looking for a caregiver. It’s also worth noting that not all ADHD medications are stimulants, and that non-stimulant types will have different baselines than, say, Adderall.
General tips for finding a mental health provider
Because DEA rules apply to prescription medications, mental health support will still be available through many telemedicine or online therapy companies — whether you’re looking for help with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or something else. Below is a list of the best treatment options available online right now, as well as the best psychiatry services.
Help find treatment with opioids
Buprenorphine can be prescribed in a doctors office, and new patients will be able to get a monthly supply if they start online treatment after DEA rules apply post-pandemic. Then you will need to find another provider to continue treatment.
If you don’t have a primary care physician, checking with your local health department would be a great first step. If you start on prescription during a pandemic, your buprenorphine prescription will be kept for an additional 180 days, which means you’ll have a few extra months to find an in-person appointment. Larger cities may have a directory of places and phone numbers specifically for opioid addiction treatment, like this one in New York City.
People who live in rural areas with fewer healthcare centers may have to travel longer distances to find healthcare. To help narrow your search, the US Department of Health and Human Services has a provider search. To use it, type in your zip code and the distance you can travel.
To help find hormone therapy
Patients taking testosterone for gender confirmation care will also need to adhere to any updated post-pandemic telemedicine rules. Again, patients who live in more rural areas may have more difficulty finding a personal provider to maintain a prescription.
If you don’t know where to look, contacting your local Planned Parenthood would be a good resource. Even if the branch does not prescribe your own hormonal treatment, they may be able to refer you to another place that does. As with other health care services, if you don’t have a primary care physician, you can find and contact your local health department to put you in touch with someone who can get your medications.
This story will be updated as the proposed rules go into effect, including any changes to what the DEA has planned for now.