The Drug Enforcement Agency, jointly with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is issuing a temporary rule to extend certain exceptions granted to existing DEA regulations in March 2020 as a result of the COVID19 Public Health Emergency (COVID-19 PHE), in order to avoid lapses in care for patients.

The full set of telemedicine flexibilities regarding prescription of controlled medications as were in place during the COVID-19 PHE will remain in place through November 11, 2023.

If a patient and a practitioner have established a telemedicine relationship on or before November 11, 2023, the same telemedicine flexibilities that have governed the relationship to that point are permitted until November 11, 2024.

According to the rule, ultimately, there will be a final set of regulations permitting the practice of telemedicine under circumstances that are consistent with public health, safety, and effective controls against diversion. 

Read SAMHSA's release here.

Read entire rule here.