Medical benefits: Patient rights— Medication prescribing authority; withdrawn,

[Federal Register: May 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 98)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 27733-27734]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr21my99-23]

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 17

RIN 2900-AJ07

Medication Prescribing Authority

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

SUMMARY: This document withdraws our proposal to amend our medical regulations concerning the prescribing of medications which was published in the Federal Register on May 4, 1999 (64 FR 23812). We proposed to change the regulations by stating that health care

[[Page 27734]]

professionals, other than physicians, are able to prescribe medications as authorized by VA and to conduct the necessary medication reviews. We also proposed to amend the regulations to allow for VA health care professionals to issue prescriptions by electronic means in addition to ordering prescriptions by telephone. We have decided that we should reconsider issues raised in the proposal and intend to publish a new proposal with clarifications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas V. Holohan, M.D., FACP, Chief Patient Care Services Officer (11), Veterans Health Administration, 202-273-8474. (This is not a toll-free number.)

Approved: May 17, 1999. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 99-12880Filed5-20-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320-01-U