DEA and HHS Extend Telemedicine Flexibilities for Controlled Medications through 2025

On November 15, 2024, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that they have extended the current telemedicine flexibilities for the prescription of controlled medications through December 31, 2025. The extension means that DEA registered practitioners will continue to be able to prescribe controlled substances via telemedicine without having to conduct an in-person medical evaluation of the patient so long as certain conditions are met. The full text of the extension, entitled the “Third Temporary Extension of Covid-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications”, can be found here. The extension provides the DEA and HHS time to promulgate proposed and final regulations that are consistent with public health and safety, and that also effectively mitigate the risk of possible diversion. Furthermore, the extension provides additional time for providers to come into compliance with any new standards or safeguards eventually adopted in a final set of regulations.

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