The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made permanent a pandemic-era flexibility allowing providers to prescribe buprenorphine—a treatment for opioid use disorder—through telehealth without an in-person visit. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said the rule, which applies only to certified opioid treatment programs, makes drug therapy more accessible. The rules go into effect on April 2, and the compliance date is April 2, 2026.

This could be a positive sign, as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is working on proposed rules for the virtual prescribing of controlled substances like buprenorphine after 2024 when eased pandemic rules expire. It’s unclear when those will be proposed, but DEA has said it will finalize them by the fall of 2024.

For many LeadingAge members, access to e-prescribing for controlled substances has helped support vulnerable populations who have limited access to prescribers. In hospice and home health settings access to quick access to opioids and anti-anxiety medication can be critical to successful patient outcomes.