Bicycle Health is partnering with Albertsons to allow its patients with an opioid addiction to receive a buprenorphine injection from pharmacists at more than 700 of the grocery and pharmacy chain's locations.
Opioid use disorder patients of the telehealth company in 17 states must first have a virtual visit with Bicycle Health before being prescribed the medication, which helps reduce people's dependence on opiates. Previously, the company's patients were only able to get prescriptions for oral buprenorphine at pharmacies, including Albertsons.
Read more: Telehealth companies lobby on prescribing as DEA mulls rule change
The partnership does not include any financial agreement, a Bicycle Health spokesperson said.
A study published in JAMA Network in June 2021 found patients prefer injectable buprenorphine to oral buprenorphine medication.
“In the past, if a patient was a better fit for injectable medication, we would have to refer them to a local provider," said Bicycle Health CEO Ankit Gupta. "And it was almost impossible to find a local provider who was an expert in injectable buprenorphine, could administer it and manage all of the logistics required [around receiving the medication]."
The move comes as the Drug Enforcement Agency scrutinizes the virtual prescribing of controlled substances. In May, the DEA extended until November flexibilities that allow telehealth companies to remotely prescribe certain controlled substances without an in-person visit. Earlier this year, the agency proposed that Schedule III-V substances like buprenorphine could only be prescribed via telehealth for an initial 30-day dose.
As the DEA figures out next steps, virtual companies like Bicycle and Talkiatry are pushing the agency for permanent flexibilities around remote prescribing. They’re also working on contingency plans.
“A lot of our work does take into account what the DEA might or might not do,” Gupta said. “We’re always planning for contingencies because of the regulatory uncertainty we live in now."
Albertsons did not respond to an interview request.
