Lacktman, Ferrante Comment on Effort to Loosen Telemedicine Restrictions for Prescribing

Partner Nate Lacktman and Senior Counsel TJ Ferrante were quoted in an mHealthIntelligence article, “ATA Presses DEA to Loosen Telemedicine Restrictions for Prescribing,” about a letter from the American Telemedicine Association urging federal authorities to loosen the reins on regulations that restrict mental health professionals from prescribing controlled substances via telehealth.

A blog post by the pair, who worked with the ATA on its recommendations, said the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which is designed to tackle the nation’s ongoing opioid abuse epidemic, was changed prior to passage to specifically require the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to gather public comments – thus enabling the ATA and others to make their opinions heard.

“The recommendations are designed to strike a balance between the country’s great need for additional behavioral health resources, commonly accepted clinical practices, the evolving landscape of telemedicine technologies, and DEA’s charge to protect the safety and wellbeing of citizens via drug diversion,” he wrote.