Objective ADHD testing provider believes that the focus should be on quality, not setting

Last month, the Department of Justice through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in consultation with the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that, if finalized, would reinstate the in-person visitation requirements for physicians to prescribe patients classified medications, including Adderall. Qbtech strongly supports patients' access to high-quality health care and believes the current DEA rule, although an improvement to care, is far too restrictive. The pandemic demonstrated that flexibility in how and where patients receive care promotes improved outcomes. Qbtech stands with its providers and will continue to work with them to ensure patients receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Approximately 4.4% of adults and 7.2% of children have been diagnosed with ADHD, with one out of three receiving a combination of medication and behavioral treatment in the past year. If implemented, the DEA's ruling would effectively terminate many existing patient-provider relationships that began during the PHE over the past three years to benefit patients across the United States, primarily through expanding telehealth and blended services where patients can elect to visit in person or receive care remotely.

If the DEA's proposal is implemented, individuals who require mental health care, including those diagnosed and treated for ADHD, will face a "telehealth cliff." This cliff would compound the clinician shortage strain, and leave many, especially those in underrepresented communities, lacking access to services and quality care.

If left untreated or undiagnosed, ADHD often leads to comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, depression, higher risk of suicide and increased risk of substance use. With the United States facing a modern mental health epidemic, the DEA's ruling creates unnecessary barriers and burdens for patients while creating new challenges for those who provide informed and quality care.

“As it stands, the current DEA rule would prove harmful for patients needing medication therapy for ADHD and a host of mental and behavioral health conditions, particularly those in areas with limited access to care,” says Tony Doyle, Commercial Director, Qbtech. “It also presents challenges for providers who have successfully deployed telehealth services and are utilizing them safely and effectively to treat their patients. One of our core values at Qbtech is expanding access to care, and we know from our data that when symptoms are measured and monitored, patients can benefit from high-quality care both in-clinic and remotely. If passed, this DEA rule will create ripple effects throughout the population and severely limit how patients receive proper care and medication, which can have grave consequences.”

About Qbtech

Founded in 2002, Qbtech is a privately-owned Swedish company that has developed leading solutions and products for improving the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients living with ADHD. Qbtech has operations in 13 countries and has offices in Stockholm, Houston, and London. Qbtech is an award-winning company recognized for its innovation, most recently winning the 2022 HSJ Partnership Award for the ‘Best Mental Health Partnership with the NHS’.

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