Pro Bono: Unraveling DEA Regulations on EMS Use of Controlled Substances

To say that Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) requirements for ambulance services and EMS providers are confusing is quite an understatement. Even for lawyers used to understanding complex laws and regulations, DEA regulations rank at or near the top of the list of hard-to-understand and complex regulations. For example, we weren’t able to find the words "ambulance" or "EMS" in them anywhere, at least as of the drafting of this article. Ambulance services are able to register as mid-level practitioners with the DEA. DEA regulations define a mid-level practitioner as "an individual practitioner, other than a physician, dentist, veterinarian, or podiatrist, who is licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted by the United States or the jurisdiction in which he/she practices, to dispense a controlled substance in the course of professional practice." Paramedics and EMTs aren’t able to individually register as mid-level practitioners with the DEA. And, exactly what ambulance services registered as mid-level practitioners are able to do is up to each state. At the time of publication, there are 38 states that don’t allow ambulance services registered as mid-level practitioners to dispense, administer or order any type of controlled substance. It’s no wonder many ambulance services located in one of these 38 states don’t bother to register with the DEA as midlevel practitioners! It appears registration wouldn’t do the ambulance service ...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Legal & Ethical Administration and Leadership Columns Source Type: news