Schedule II Drugs Now Get Extended Scripts As DEA Simplifies Rules
Executive Summary
The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a rule clarifying how multiple prescriptions for schedule II controlled substances can be written and is proposing to reduce the amount of paper used in the ordering of schedule I and II controlled substances
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The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a rule clarifying how multiple prescriptions for schedule II controlled substances can be written and is proposing to reduce the amount of paper used in the ordering of schedule I and II controlled substances. For practitioners looking to aid in the alleviation of potential financial and other burdens related to an office visit for the writing of a prescription for schedule II controlled substances, DEA clarified the rule to specifically allow for the writing of prescriptions that would be filled sequentially. The sequential prescriptions would allow up to a 90-day supply of the drugs. DEA emphasized that the requirement was not meant to suggest that practitioners should be moving toward sequential prescriptions rather than seeing patients on a regular basis, but rather allows them to make judgments on how often they need to monitor individual patient's intake of schedule II drugs. The rules stem from a September 2006 notice of proposed rule making and went into effect in December 2007. On the proposed rule front, DEA is taking comments through Jan. 28 on a new rule that would replace the current three-part carbon copy form (DEA Form 222) used to order schedule I/II controlled substances with a single form with enhanced security features. The new form will be printed on sturdier paper with a watermark to help prevent counterfeiting. Also, when a copy of the form is made, the photocopy will have the DEA emblem and the word "Copy" on it to hinder counterfeiting as well. In other controlled substance-related news, DEA issued a rule outlining the criteria under which a controlled substance can be exported to one country and subsequently re-exported to a third country. The rule, published Dec. 26, 2007 in the Federal Register, goes into effect on Jan. 25. The rule represent the enacting of the Controlled Substance Export Reform Act, which was signed into law in August 2005. - Gregory Twachtman ([email protected]) |