The DEA’s New Telemedicine Rule: Why Your/Your Child’s Prescriber Might Not Be on the Approved List
A federal rule that will permanently govern telemedicine prescribing of ADHD stimulant medication is now in final White House review, with a decision expected around November 2026 — just before the temporary flexibility that currently allows it expires on December 31, 2026. The last public draft of the rule would have limited video-visit prescribing of Schedule II medications to seven specialist categories, including psychiatrists, pediatricians, and neurologists, but not family medicine or internal medicine physicians, who prescribe and manage a substantial share of ADHD medication nationally. Because the final rule’s text is not public, families cannot yet know whether this restriction survives, but the timeline leaves little room to adjust if it does. Parents are advised to confirm their prescriber’s specialty now and ask about contingency plans well before the December deadline.