DEA Extends Telemedicine Flexibilities

DEA and SAMHSA have announced a 6-month extension of COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled medications while the agencies review comments and complete final rulemaking. The existing DEA flexibilities will continue until November 11, 2023.

The ability to prescribe controlled substances based on telehealth patient visits was set to expire when the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended on Thursday, May 11. The DEA initially issued two proposed rules establishing new policies for controlled substance prescriptions based on telehealth visits, one for buprenorphine and one for other controlled substances. After receiving more than 38,000 comment letters, however, the DEA has decided to extend the same policies that have been in place during COVID for an additional 6 months.