On October 6, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the extension of current telemedicine flexibilities in place during the national Public Health Emergency (PHE) through December 31, 2024. The full text of the extension, entitled “Second Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications,” can be found here.
The Second Temporary Rule Extension Does Two Things:
- Extends the full set of PHE telemedicine flexibilities regarding the prescription of controlled medications until the end 2024, allowing practitioners to prescribe controlled medications without conducting an in-person evaluation of that patient; and
- Authorizes all practitioners who are registered with the DEA and otherwise meet the requirements of state law to prescribe controlled medications via telemedicine through December 31, 2024, regardless of whether the patient and practitioner established a telemedicine relationship on or before November 11, 2023.The DEA and HHS plan to promulgate final telemedicine prescription rules by Fall of 2024. Stay tuned to TNP practice updates for more information.
