The Stuff That Dreams Are Made of

With this episode, Peter Scanavino and James Murtaugh have now been on all five of the NYC-based Law & Order shows.

Stabler is correct in that a physician must perform an in-person exam and physical before prescribing a controlled substance to a new patient for the first time, or for prescribing a new and/or different controlled substance to an established patient. Also New York state law prohibits an out-of-state prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance such as oxycodone, fentanyl or amphetamines. DEA regulations also state that a physician can only prescribe up to 90 days worth of a Schedule II controlled substance at a time, in 30 day increments, and a patient must have an office visit with their physician at least every 90 days when being prescribed a controlled substance. However because of the COVID-19 pandemic the DEA has temporarily changed regulations to allow for a telehealth visit, instead of an in-office visit, for an established patient being prescribed a controlled substance every 90 days. However new patients, or established patients being changed to a different medication, must be seen in person before a controlled substance can be legally prescribed.