DEA Extends Telemedicine Flexibilities for Controlled Medications

WV Board of Pharmacy

Published January 3rd, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The DEA, in conjunction with HHS, has extended current telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled medications through December 31, 2026. This allows DEA-registered practitioners to remotely prescribe Schedule II-V controlled medications, including certain narcotic medications for opioid use disorder treatment, without a prior in-person evaluation.

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What changed

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has issued a fourth temporary extension of COVID-19 telemedicine flexibilities, pushing the deadline to December 31, 2026. This extension permits DEA-registered practitioners to prescribe Schedule II-V controlled medications, including Schedule III-V narcotic controlled medications for opioid use disorder treatment, via audio-video or audio-only telemedicine encounters without a prior in-person medical evaluation, provided all other DEA and applicable federal/state laws are met.

This extension is critical for ensuring continued patient access to care, particularly for those relying on telemedicine for controlled substance prescriptions. Healthcare providers must ensure that all prescriptions issued under these flexibilities continue to comply with existing DEA guidance, regulations, and federal and state laws. The full details of the extension are available in the DEA's press release and have been published in the Federal Register.

What to do next

Ensure all telemedicine prescriptions for controlled medications comply with DEA guidance and federal/state law.
Note the extended deadline of December 31, 2026, for these flexibilities.

Source document (simplified)

DEA Extends Telemedicine Flexibilities to Ensure Continued Access to Care - Current Topics

DEA Extends Telemedicine Flexibilities to Ensure Continued Access to Care

By k Capehart 1/3/2026 The DEA, along with the Department of Health and Human Services has issued a Fourth Temporary Extension of the COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for the Prescription of Controlled Medications, extending the current telemedicine flexibilities through December 31, 2026.

Under these telemedicine flexibilities, DEA-registered practitioners are permitted to remotely prescribe Schedule II-V controlled medications via audio-video telemedicine encounters, including Schedule III-V narcotic controlled medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for maintenance and withdrawal management treatment of opioid use disorder via audio-only telemedicine encounters, without having ever conducted an in-person medical evaluation, provided that such prescriptions otherwise comply with the requirements outlined in DEA guidance documents, DEA regulations, and applicable federal and state law.

The entire statement can be found here. It is published in the Federal Register here.