HHS, DEA extend telehealth prescribing again

A final rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration extends certain telemedicine prescribing flexibilities for an additional year. As urged by the American Hospital Association, the agencies will waive the in-person visit requirement before the prescribing of controlled substances virtually until Dec. 31, 2025. The agencies initially granted the flexibilities during the COVID-19 public health emergency; they were set to expire by year-end. This is the third time the agencies have extended the telemedicine prescribing flexibilities for controlled substances. Congress still has not acted on a separate set of telehealth flexibilities for Medicare patients initially enacted during the pandemic that will expire at the end of the year. (AHA News article, 11/15/24)