On November 15, DEA announced the extension of current telemedicine flexibilities for prescription-controlled medications through the end of 2025. This includes substances such as buprenorphine and Adderall.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DEA issued temporary rules that allow providers to prescribe these substances without first meeting a patient in person. Those rules were set to expire at the end of 2024 but have now been extended for 1 more year—until the end of 2025.

Last year, DEA received tens of thousands of comments and held 2 days of public listening sessions in response to a set of proposed telemedicine rules. Given that feedback and discussion, the agency made its decision. The full text of the "Third Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications" is posted in the Federal Register.