VA Deputy Secretary Gone Amid EHRM Row, DEA Proposes New Telemedicine Rule
After two years of strife, the VA Deputy Secretary decided to step away, and DEA officials are proposing new telemedicine rules that will limit prescriptions of controlled substances.
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By - In the news this week, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) took another blow to its EHR modernization (EHRM) project after the man in charge of running the campaign stepped down. Meanwhile, the DEA plans on putting an end to the lax prescribing policies of the pandemic.
VA Deputy Secretary Steps Down, Leaves EHR Project
VA deputy secretary Donald Remy announced that he would be leaving the department after overseeing the fitful Oracle-Cerner EHR modernization rollout. Remy’s tenure began in 2021 after the EHR project was initially delayed by Secretary Denis McDonough. Deputy secretary Remy struggled to convince congress that the project was working after several reports found that the EHR had caused issues with care delivery. VA assistant secretary for enterprise integration, Guy Kiyokawa, will take Remy’s place in the interim. READ MORE.
National Cybersecurity Strategy Expands Healthcare Protections
The Biden Administration released its National Cybersecurity Strategy last week, outlining the federal government’s role in protecting critical infrastructure. In an interview with HealthITSecurity, Mike Hamilton, CISO of Critical Insight, explained that regulatory requirements will likely enhance the focus on third-party risk management and the security of internet of things devices. According to the new strategy, officials will work with Congress and private sector groups to implement legislation to work on issues like liability and limits on information collection. READ MORE.
DEA Proposes Updated COVID-19 Telemedicine Rules
The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced a proposed update to pandemic-era telemedicine flexibility rules that may restrict prescriptions over the phone. According to the DEA, medical professionals can no longer take on new patients and prescribe controlled substances without first meeting them for an in-person consultation. These drugs include ketamine, anabolic steroids, benzodiazepines, and narcotics. READ MORE.
CDC Finds Teen Girls Experiencing Mental Health Crisis
A new CDC report found that teenage girls are facing increased instances of suicidal ideation and overall poorer mental health. Trends from the survey also showed that cases of sexual violence against young women had increased in the past year.
“High school should be a time for trailblazing, not trauma. These data show our kids need far more support to cope, hope, and thrive,” Debra Houry, MD, MPH, CDC’s Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science. “Proven school prevention programs can offer teens a vital lifeline in these growing waves of trauma.” READ MORE.
FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Medical Tests
The FDA issued a new emergency use authorization to allow over-the-counter sales of at-home COVID-19 and influenza tests. According to the FDA press release, the diagnostic test can detect Influenza A and B and SARS-COV-2. In trials, the diagnostic tool was 99.3 percent accurate at detecting Influenza A and 100 percent at detecting COVID. The agency plans to continue searching for accurate over-the-counter tests that can reduce disease transmission. READ MORE.
