PAMED Joins Push for Single National Narcotic Provider Registration Number

To help reduce the cost and administrative hassles for physicians practicing in multiple states, the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) is supporting the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) work at the federal level to simplify the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number process so that registration for physicians is person specific rather than site specific.

The goal is to get rid of multiple DEA registrations for physicians. This change would also help the DEA in its efforts to better track a physician’s controlled substance prescribing history and patterns.

At last year’s PAMED House of Delegates, the delegates approved a recommendation that PAMED should study the issue and take appropriate action. The PAMED Board approved taking action in May to have the AMA redouble their efforts at obtaining relief from multiple registration numbers.

Currently, a separate registration is required for each state where a physician would have a principal place of business or professional practice where they prescribe controlled substances.

The AMA has been working with the DEA and Congress to move toward this simplified system.