Interim final rule on e-prescribing of controlled substances issued

The Office of the Federal Register made available for public inspection an Interim Final Rule (IFR) with Request for Comments from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Justice (DoJ) on e-prescribing of controlled substances.

The IFR specified the rules that healthcare providers will need to follow to e-prescribe controlled substances in accordance with the law. Since DEA published the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for e-prescribing of controlled substances, Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other Department of Health and Human Services’ staff have worked closely with DEA to develop the policies in the IFR, according to ONC.

"This new interim rule from the DEA and DoJ brings us one step closer to that goal. I understand there will be a period of public comment before the rule is finalized, but am encouraged by yesterday's announcement. In the meantime, I look forward to reviewing the proposal further and hope for a final determination soon,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

The IFR is expected to be published in the Federal Register on March 31 and will include a 60-day comment period.

To view the IFR go to: http://www.federalregister.gov/inspection.aspx#spec_D.

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