# Extension 4: Fourth Temporary Rule — DEA telemedicine controlled-substance prescribing flexibility -- extension history

For Extension 4: Fourth Temporary Rule, published is 12/31/2025; federal register citation is 90 FR 61301; document number is 2025-24123; effective period as stated is This rule is effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026; flexibility extended through is December 31, 2026, verified against its source on 2026-08-31.

- **Temporary rule:** Extension 4: Fourth Temporary Rule _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Published:** 12/31/2025 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Federal Register citation:** 90 FR 61301 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Document number:** 2025-24123 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Effective period as stated:** This rule is effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026. _(verified: appears in its own passage below)_
- **Flexibility extended through:** December 31, 2026 _(verified: appears in its own passage below)_
- **Expiry date this rule replaced:** December 31, 2025 _(verified: appears in its own passage below)_

## What the source says

> A Rule by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Health and Human Services Department on 12/31/2025 Published Document: 2025-24123 (90 FR 61301)

## Where each value comes from

This source states these in separate places, so each value is shown with the passage that states it.

### Effective period as stated

> DATES: This rule is effective January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.

### Flexibility extended through

> The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is issuing a fourth extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications through December 31, 2026.

### Expiry date this rule replaced

> Paragraph (a) is amended to state that the authorization granted in paragraph (b) expires at the end of December 31, 2026, instead of December 31, 2025.

## Source

- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/31/2025-24123/fourth-temporary-extension-of-covid-19-telemedicine-flexibilities-for-prescription-of-controlled

Last verified: 2026-08-31. Review by: 2026-10-30.
Part of [DEA telemedicine controlled-substance prescribing flexibility -- extension history](https://referencesource.org/dea-telemedicine-prescribing-flexibility-extensions/).