Practice Management Alert

Question: Many people in my practice's rural town are struggling with opioid addiction. There are few clinics or practices, and lots of people suffering. Do we have any more options on the horizon to treat people?

Missouri Subscriber

Answer: In Missouri, 98 of 101 rural counties lack a licensed psychiatrist, meaning a dire lack of professionals who can play a critical role in prescribing or conducting treatment for opioid addiction.

Three U.S. senators: Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), want "to expand rural communities' access to treatment for opioid addiction," according to a Jan. 30, 2018, press release from Sen. McCaskill's office. "While current law requires a doctor or nurse to see a patient in person before writing a prescription for a controlled substance, the senators are encouraging the Trump Administration to exempt healthcare providers from this restriction in limited cases in order to expand access to opioid addiction treatment."

The senators together crafted and sent a letter to the acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Robert W. Patterson, urging the DEA to "issue a new rule allowing for doctors, nurses, or other practitioners to obtain a 'special registration' in order to prescribe controlled substances used as part of opioid addiction treatment via telemedicine," the press release says. "Telemedicine can include prescriptions over the internet or by phone, which can be especially helpful in rural communities where there can be doctor shortages."

The three senators believe that telemedicine can crucial in treating and overcoming addiction in rural populations.

"This rule change for expanding telemedicine access in a safe and controlled manner is another crucial step forward in addressing this epidemic and would ensure that controlled substances are dispensed in a tightly regulated and safe way," said Senator Murkowski, according to the press release.

Read more, including the senators' letter to the DEA, here: https://www.mccaskill.senate.gov/media-center/news-releases/mccaskill-murkowski-sullivan-seek-to-expand-opioid-addiction-treatment-options-for-rural-communities.