The Public Health Emergency is ending — now what?

The rollback of telemedicine flexibilities for controlled substances and what that means for digital health startups

During the COVID public health emergency, regulations were put in place to increase awareness and adoption of telemedicine. Image by Tima Miroshnichenko via Pexels.

The Ryan Haight Act

DEA’s Controlled Substance Guidance

A secondary, albeit preventable, public health crisis

“Our concern lies with the potential public health crisis this could cause for individuals needing access to clinically appropriate prescriptions of controlled substances for a wide variety of medical circumstances, including for mental health and substance use disorders,” said ATA’s senior vice president Kyle Zebley in a press release. “The continuity of care for countless Americans will be severed, potentially leaving these patients to fall through the cracks of our healthcare system without access to needed medications.”

Carway - virtual mental health for college students
Market map by Jess Schram

Why backpedal progress?

“Many mental health patients call [Ketamine] lifesaving. But some complain of bladder ailments, inadequate oversight and addiction.” Image & caption via The New York Times.

What’s Next?

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Health & Wellness Investor @Swiftarc Ventures, formerly at 14W and Lerer Hippeau. All thoughts are my own.

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Jess Schram

Health & Wellness Investor @Swiftarc Ventures, formerly at 14W and Lerer Hippeau. All thoughts are my own.