Does the Power of Attorney go to the DEA?

The correct response is that the Power of Attorney does not go to the DEA. In the context of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regulations, a Power of Attorney (POA) allows an individual to act on behalf of a registrant, such as a pharmacy or practitioner, in transactions involving controlled substances. However, this document is not required to be submitted to the DEA. Instead, it should be maintained on file at the location of the entity and made available for inspection if requested by the DEA.

The Power of Attorney simply grants authority to the designated person to handle specific business transactions related to controlled substances, such as ordering or managing inventory. The registrant remains responsible for compliance with all DEA regulations, and the POA does not alter that responsibility. As such, there is no need for the DEA to retain a copy, as it is not a regulatory requirement.

This understanding underlines the nature of the Power of Attorney in relation to DEA compliance within the pharmacy practice, clarifying why submission to the DEA is not necessary.