Drug Enforcement Administration To Propose Rule To Allow E-Prescribing Of Controlled Substances

Main Category: IT / Internet / E-mail
Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs;  Pharmacy / Pharmacist;  Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals
Article Date: 23 Jun 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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The Drug Enforcement Administration as early as next week plans to announce a proposed rule that would allow electronic prescribing of medications classified as controlled substances, according to an individual familiar with the situation, the Wall Street Journal reports. The rule, which would require a public comment period, likely will include security requirements to ensure the legitimacy of prescriptions for controlled substances, which account for about 10% to 13% of all U.S. prescriptions.

The rule would apply to "Schedule IV" medications -- such as the insomnia treatments Lunesta and Ambien, as well as the anti-anxiety medication Xanax -- and "Schedule V" medications, such as the pain treatment Lyrica. According to an individual familiar with the situation, the rule also would apply to "Schedule II" medications, the most restricted category, which includes the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treatments Concerta, Adderall and Ritalin and the pain medication OxyContin.

The rule, in conjunction with a Medicare bill that would encourage physicians to use e-prescribing, might "finally lead to widespread adoption" of the practice, as many physicians to date "have been reluctant to purchase the technology because of concerns including cost and DEA restrictions," the Journal reports. Fewer than 10% of U.S. physicians currently use e-prescribing (Fields/Wilde Mathews, Wall Street Journal, 6/20).

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