DEA reportedly allowing e-prescriptions for controlled medication

WASHINGTON The Drug Enforcement Administration is preparing to release a proposal that would allow e-prescribing of controlled medication, according to The Wall Street Journal. A source close to the project says that the proposal could come as soon as next week, but even if so, it would still need a comment period and could possibly be changed in areas before becoming final.

“We are working on a rule for publication in the federal register that will allow e-prescribing for controlled substances,” said DEA spokeswoman Rogene Waite. “We’re close to publication at this point.”

The agency’s move would come as Congress appears likely to pass a bill that would push doctors to switch electronic prescriptions from written ones. The bill, past of a package that lawmakers are trying to pass before a July 1 deadline, is expected to also increase Medicare payments to physicians who make the change to e-prescribing, but would also dock doctor’s fees in later years if they fail to adopt the technology.

The DEA’s proposal is expected to detail certain security requirements for assuring that the controlled drugs are being legitimately prescribed by approved medical practitioners.