WASHINGTON, D.C. DECEMBER 31, 2025 – Today, a fourth extension was officially published to the Federal Register just before tonight’s midnight deadline, granting providers and patients across the country another clean, one-year extension of the remote prescribing of controlled substances waiver through December 31, 2026. ATA Action, the advocacy arm of the American Telemedicine Association, commented on this essential extension that ensures Americans, particularly those with mental and behavioral health needs, can maintain access to the care they have depended on since early 2020.
“This critical federal action came down to the wire, and we appreciate the Trump Administration for preventing interruption of this life-saving care. This one-year extension is a major relief for patients and healthcare providers, restoring certainty and avoiding treatment gaps for millions of Americans. Importantly, it also gives ATA Action and other key stakeholders time to continue working with the Trump Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and our bipartisan champions in Congress to establish a permanent and workable framework that guarantees appropriate and necessary access to care. This extension came within hours of expiration, placing patients, providers, and health systems on the brink of unnecessary disruption. ATA Action is deeply grateful for the extension and recognizes that it was offered in good faith, as allowing these flexibilities to lapse for any extended period would have constituted a predictable and preventable public health crisis,” said Alexis Apple, deputy executive director, ATA Action and vice president of federal affairs at the ATA. “However, allowing the waiver to approach a hard deadline created avoidable uncertainty.
“The remote prescribing of controlled substances waiver – originally put in place during President Trump’s first term in office and extended under his leadership during his current term in the White House – has proven to be a lifeline for patients by expanding access to care, reducing treatment delays, and improving outcomes. This critically important waiver must be preserved continuously until a permanent policy is enacted,” added Apple. “Looking ahead, we welcome the opportunity to work proactively with federal policymakers to provide earlier clarity and longer-term certainty.
“We continue to support a permanent Special Registration framework that enables responsible patient care and equips the DEA with appropriate tools to prevent misuse,” said Apple. “We also encourage the DEA to seek provider feedback when developing safeguards to reduce diversion, improve access to essential prescriptions for mental health, substance use disorder, and other chronic conditions, and prioritize patient safety. ATA Action believes clinical decisions should remain the judgment of qualified medical professionals, supported by regulatory frameworks that protect patients and promote responsible care.”
“As we close out the year, we remain grateful to the Trump Administration and our bipartisan, bicameral Congressional telehealth champions for continuing to recognize the value of telehealth and virtual care services and prioritizing the needs of patients,” added Apple. “Beginning in January, we will double down on our efforts to make all temporary telehealth waivers permanent or at least extended multiple years to avoid any lapses in telehealth services in the future.”
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).