DEA renews remote prescribing flexibilities for fourth time

Modern Healthcare – Tuesday, December 30, 2025
By Joyce Famakinwa and Lauren Dubinsky

The Drug Enforcement Administration on Tuesday temporarily extended a rule allowing clinicians to prescribe controlled medications remotely through the end of 2026.

The rule, which will take effect Thursday, gives clinicians the ability to remotely prescribe Schedule II-V controlled medications to patients. This latest extension marks the fourth time the rule has been renewed since it was implemented at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the rule, clinicians are able to prescribe controlled medications, such as Adderall and Xanax via telemedicine appointments, without an initial in-person examination. The rule was originally set to expire at the end of December.

The DEA said the latest extension will prevent a sudden return to pre-pandemic restrictions that could disrupt patients’ access to care, while giving the agency time to finalize permanent regulations. It also will give providers time to meet any new DEA registration, recordkeeping or security requirements that may be included in the final set of regulations.

At the start of 2025, the DEA proposed a rule that would put a special registration process in place for prescribing Schedule II-V controlled substances. The proposal, published by President Joe Biden’s DEA in January before he left office, has not been finalized by the Trump administration.

The DEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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