LUGPA Policy Brief – DEA Extends Telemedicine Prescribing Flexibilities Through December 31, 2026

January 2026 

At-a-Glance Essentials

What’s Changing:
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issued a fourth temporary extension of COVID-19-era telemedicine prescribing flexibilities for Schedule II–V controlled substances. The extension is effective January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.

Why It Matters:
This one-year extension prevents an abrupt “telemedicine cliff” at the end of 2025, preserving patient access to necessary medications and protecting care models that practices and patients have relied on since 2020.

Impact on LUGPA Members:
Independent urology practices may continue prescribing controlled substances via telehealth without requiring an initial in-person visit, thereby supporting continuity of care, improving access for rural and underserved patients, and enhancing operational efficiency.

What’s Next:
The DEA continues work on a permanent regulatory framework. Without finalized rules, uncertainty remains beyond December 31, 2026.

Policy Overview

On December 30, 2025, the DEA and HHS finalized the extension just ahead of the prior authority’s expiration. The policy maintains the existing framework, allowing DEA-registered practitioners to prescribe Schedule II–V controlled substances via audio-video telemedicine, provided prescriptions comply with current DEA guidance, federal regulations, and applicable state law. No new requirements are imposed on providers or patients.

The DEA emphasized that the extension avoids disruptions to care while allowing time to finalize permanent safeguards, citing recent lapses in telehealth authority that resulted in significant declines in telehealth utilization nationwide.

Why This Matters for Urology

Telemedicine has become an integral tool for managing urologic conditions requiring controlled medications, including post-operative pain management and cancer-related symptoms. Abrupt policy changes would risk delayed treatment, increased barriers for rural, elderly, and mobility-limited patients, and added administrative strain on independent practices.

LUGPA Perspective

LUGPA supports this extension as critical for maintaining patient access and practice stability in 2026. However, reliance on temporary extensions underscores the need for permanent, evidence-based telehealth regulations. LUGPA will continue advocating for policies that safeguard public safety while ensuring telehealth remains a viable, patient-centered component of urologic care.