Agencies extend telehealth prescribing flexibilities for controlled medications through 2024

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Oct. 6 released a temporary rule extending telehealth prescribing flexibilities for buprenorphine and other controlled substances for new practitioner-patient relationships through Dec. 31, 2024. The agencies previously extended the flexibilities through Nov. 11, 2024, while they consider changes to proposed rules released in March that would limit telehealth prescriptions for buprenorphine and other controlled substances to a 30-day supply unless the prescriber or referring clinician have evaluated the patient in person. 
 
AHA has urged the agencies to establish a special registration process (as statutorily mandated) to waive the in-person evaluations for practitioners who register with the DEA.