What’s happening: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended existing waiver flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine through Dec. 31, 2025.
What else to know: This is the third extension.
The temporary rule:
- Allows prescribing of schedule II-V controlled substances (including schedule III-V medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of opioid use disorder) via audio-video telemedicine without a prior in-person medical evaluation
- Applies these flexibilities to all practitioner-patient relationships, not just ones established during the COVID-19 public health emergency
