WASHINGTON, D.C. NOVEMBER 15, 2024 – This afternoon, a third extension was officially posted to the Federal Register, granting the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) a clean, one-year extension of the remote prescribing of controlled substances. This critical extension will ensure that Americans can continue to access the care they’ve relied on since early 2020.
“As we close out this year and prepare for 2025, we will remain actively engaged with the incoming Trump administration, the DEA, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), interagency partners, and other key stakeholders to establish a permanent framework that ensures appropriate and necessary access to care for millions of Americans,” said Kyle Zebley, the ATA’s senior vice president, public policy, and executive director, ATA Action. “This marks a significant win for patients and healthcare providers, as we drive forward on the road to the Telehealth Super Bowl, to advance key legislative priorities supporting appropriate telehealth utilization.
“We remain grateful to the Biden Administration, the DEA and other key agencies, and our bipartisan, bicameral Congressional telehealth champions, as well as President-elect Trump and his first Administration, for their staunch support. However, our work is far from over. We are buoyed by this important ruling and will continue to pursue permanent access to essential virtual care services on behalf of healthcare providers and the millions of patients who have come to rely on telehealth,” Zebley added.
Read the official text here.
About the ATA
As the only organization completely focused on advancing telehealth, the American Telemedicine Association is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it, enabling the system to do more good for more people. The ATA represents a broad and inclusive member network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, as well as partner organizations and alliances, working to advance industry adoption of telehealth, promote responsible policy, advocate for government and market normalization, and provide education and resources to help integrate virtual care into emerging value-based delivery models.
About ATA Action
ATA Action recognizes that telehealth and virtual care have the potential to transform the healthcare delivery system by improving patient outcomes, enhancing the safety and effectiveness of care, addressing health disparities, and reducing costs. ATA Action is a registered 501c6 entity and an affiliated trade organization of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).