Advocating for Patients: Barriers to Symptom Management via Telephonic Prescribing Restrictions

To ensure continued high-quality care for palliative care patients, clinicians have turned to telemedicine (videoconferencing) or telephone visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this new format comes new opportunities but also new challenges. Currently, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) prohibits palliative care providers from prescribing the controlled substances needed for adequate symptom management to patients unless the consultation takes place over video. This restriction leads to gaps in care for patients without access to a device with an audio-visual component, and creates unnecessary suffering for patients living with a serious illness.

Join us for a webinar with Patrice Villars, MS, GNP-BC, ACHPN and Chad D. Kollas, MD, who will describe the current DEA policy and the need for a broader exception to meet the needs of patients without access to audio-visual devices. The presenters will also describe the potential benefits (e.g., reduced hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality) if a waiver is granted.