In January 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) introduced a proposed rule that could significantly reshape how addiction medicine is delivered across the country. Designed under the authority of the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act, the rule lays the groundwork for allowing certain controlled substances to be prescribed via telemedicine—without requiring an initial in-person medical evaluation.

🔍 What’s Changing?

At the heart of the proposal is a new Special Registration framework, which establishes three distinct categories:

• Telemedicine Prescribing Registration for standard remote prescriptions (Schedules III–V),

• Advanced Telemedicine Prescribing Registration for specialized providers to prescribe Schedule II–V substances, and

• Telemedicine Platform Registration for qualified telehealth platforms serving as intermediaries in the prescribing process.

These registrations will come with enhanced guardrails, such as:

• Electronic prescribing requirements (EPCS),

• Nationwide PDMP (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program) checks,

• Clear digital verification protocols, and

• Detailed recordkeeping and state-by-state compliance registration.

🩺 Why It Matters for Addiction Medicine

This proposal represents a thoughtful evolution of the flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. By creating a permanent regulatory pathway, it ensures that clinicians can continue to offer life-saving care remotely, especially in areas where in-person services are limited.

🌱 A Win for Georgia’s Providers and Patients

For members of the Georgia Society of Addiction Medicine, this rule offers:

• Greater access for patients in rural or underserved regions,

• A structured, legal way to initiate or maintain treatment remotely,

• Protections against diversion while still prioritizing care continuity.

As addiction specialists navigate a complex landscape of needs, risks, and regulations, this proposal is a welcome step toward balancing patient care with professional responsibility.

🗳 Public comments are open through March 18, 2025, and all stakeholders are encouraged to weigh in on this important shift in healthcare policy.