On May 10, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that it would extend flexibilities created during the COVID-19 public health emergency allowing physicians to prescribe controlled substances pursuant to a telemedicine encounter without first having an in-person evaluation of a patient. This rule was issued as DEA and HHS continue to consider revisions to the proposed rules issued in March 2023. The DEA received a record 38,000 comments in response to these rules and subsequently held listening sessions on Sept. 12 and 13, 2023, to further refine its proposed regulations. As the agency continues to review feedback received and develop revised rules, the agency is further extending exceptions to existing DEA regulations for telemedicine prescribing under new practitioner-patient relationships through Dec. 31, 2024.