Yes. Through December 31, 2026, a clinician registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) can prescribe controlled medicines in Schedules II to V after a telemedicine visit, without first seeing the patient in person. State law can add stricter requirements.
What the federal rule says
The default rule comes from the Ryan Haight Act of 2008. It generally requires at least one in-person medical evaluation before a clinician prescribes a controlled substance over the internet.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the DEA and the Department of Health and Human Services suspended that requirement. They have since extended the suspension four times. The fourth extension took effect on January 1, 2026 and runs through December 31, 2026.
What it means for patients
- A telemedicine visit can lead to a legal prescription for a controlled medicine, including stimulants for ADHD, benzodiazepines such as alprazolam, and buprenorphine.
- The prescription must still be for a legitimate medical purpose, written by a licensed, DEA-registered clinician, and filled by a licensed pharmacy.
- Your state may require an in-person visit for some medicines even while the federal flexibility applies.
- A website that sells controlled medicines without any prescription is not covered by this rule and is not a legal pharmacy.
What could change after 2026
The agencies have said permanent telemedicine standards are coming. In January 2025 the DEA proposed a special registration that would let approved clinicians prescribe by telemedicine under added record-keeping and reporting duties. In August 2026 the DEA sent a final version of the special registration rule to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review; its text had not been published as of early October 2026.
If no new rule or extension is in place on January 1, 2027, the in-person requirement of the Ryan Haight Act applies again, with its limited exceptions. We will update this page when the agencies act.
Sources
- Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth, US Department of Health and Human Services.
- Special Registrations for Telemedicine and Limited State Telemedicine Registrations, 90 FR 6541, Federal Register, January 17, 2025.