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Caitlin A. Koppenhaver, Esq | Florida Healthcare Law Firm
On December 31, 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), published a temporary rule that extends the COVID-era “telemedicine flexibilities” for prescribing Schedule II–V controlled substances through December 31, 2026 (the fourth temporary extension). The rule is effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, and is intended to avoid a sudden return to pre-pandemic restrictions, which would otherwise potentially and abruptly limit patients’ access to care while DEA and HHS work toward final, long-term regulations.
This rule does not create a new telemedicine prescribing regime; rather, it extends the existing COVID-era flexibility window. These telemedicine flexibilities have been in place since March 2020 for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine.
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