controlled substances

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This post was co-authored with Ivy Miller, legal intern at Robinson+Cole. Ivy is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts.

The Department of Justice has launched a number of enforcement actions targeting pharmacies for alleged violations of the False Claims Act (FCA). Recently, Walgreens has been the subject of two noteworthy government settlements related to alleged…

*This post was co-authored by Paul Palma, legal intern at Robinson+Cole. Paul is not admitted to practice law.

On November 15, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) jointly announced an extension of current COVID-era tele-prescribing flexibilities for another year – through December 31, 2025 – via…

On October 10, 2023, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued another extension (Second Temporary Rule) of its pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities “in light of the need to further evaluate the best course of action” with respect to the prescribing of controlled substances via telemedicine. DEA is issuing a limited extension in order to give itself more time to finalize new standards governing tele-prescribing of controlled substances.Continue Reading DEA Further Extends COVID-19 Telemedicine Prescribing Flexibilities through December 31, 2024

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Drug Control Division (DCP) has issued guidance for health care providers regarding refills and reissuances of controlled substance prescriptions for patients without an in-person visit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. DCP explains that “practitioners may issue prescription refills for controlled substances using their professional discretion for a patient under their care without seeing the patient in-person within certain parameters.” The parameters are as follows:

  • Schedule-Specific Requirements for Controlled Substance Prescriptions
    • Schedule II prescriptions cannot be refilled; however, practitioners with a pre-existing relationship with a patient who have prescribed a particular controlled substance for the patient previously can reissue the prescription without an in-person visit. Additionally, no prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance can contain more than one (1) prescription.
    • Schedule III and IV prescriptions can be refilled up to five (5) times every six (6) months as authorized by the prescribing practitioner.
    • Schedule V prescriptions can be refilled as authorized by the prescribing practitioner.

Continue Reading Connecticut DCP Issues Guidance for Remotely Refilling Prescriptions