SAMHSA, DEA Proposed Rules Offer Conflicting Fed OUD Policy

Recently proposed regulatory changes on the role of telehealth for medication treatment of opioid use disorder present conflicting policies from the federal government, according to two leading opioid treatment advocates and a telehealth lobbyist. HHS does not agree. DEA’s proposed extension of COVID-19 telehealth prescribing flexibilities asserting that DEA and SAMHSA will work together to promulgate final rules regulating telehealth prescribing of controlled substances may be a tip-off that the agencies will not enact the rules, which differ widely, as...