By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

The American Medical Association has released a new set of policy recommendations to help patients maintain access to opioids and other prescription drugs during the coronavirus pandemic. While many of the proposals involve substance abuse treatment, some are designed to protect chronic pain patients.

“These recommendations are to help guide policymakers reduce the stress being experienced by patients with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain as well as support efforts to continue harm reduction efforts in communities across the United States,” the AMA said in a statement.

The AMA is asking individual states to waive many of the requirements on filling prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances during the coronavirus emergency.

• Waive limits on the dose and/or quantity of opioids and other controlled substances, as well as refills.

• Waive requirements for electronic prescribing of controlled substances, including requirements for an in-person evaluation of patients needing a refill.

• Waive drug testing and in-person counseling requirements for chronic pain patients needing refills.

• Allow for telehealth counseling to fulfill state prescribing and treatment requirements.

• Provide liability protection for physicians who prescribe controlled substances for patients the physician believes is compliant with prescription recommendations.

• Enhance home-delivery of medication for patients with chronic pain.

The AMA is recommending similar waivers for patients being treated for OUD, including the designation of addiction treatment drugs (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) as “essential services,” allowing for 90-day prescriptions for buprenorphine, and suspending daily limits on residential and out-patient therapy.

The Drug Enforcement Administration recently waived federal requirements for in-person visits for controlled substance prescribing, allowing doctors and patients to connect remotely via telehealth. The AMA is encouraging states to take similar action for their own controlled substance regulations.