Petition Summary:

The ability to receive medications remotely has been a lifeline for countless patients, particularly those in underserved communities who struggle with access to in-person care. As we approach the end of the year, millions of patients who rely on these critical services are at risk of being left behind if remote prescribing flexibilities are not extended. This is not just an inconvenience—this is a matter of life and death for vulnerable patients who depend on ongoing access to essential medications. Without timely action by the White House and Congress, the progress made in expanding access to care during the pandemic will be undone, causing significant disruptions in healthcare for our most vulnerable populations.

As the year comes to a close, more than 330 stakeholder organizations as well as countless healthcare providers, patients, and advocates, are urging Congress and the White House to take immediate action to ensure ongoing access to remote prescribing of controlled substances. Based on current reporting, stakeholders fear that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) may soon dramatically limit virtual prescribing, either through new regulations or by allowing existing pandemic-era flexibilities to expire on January 1st.

Why This Matters:

Without immediate intervention, millions of patients—many of whom reside in underserved communities or face significant barriers to in-person care— stand to lose access to vital healthcare services. Remote prescribing has been a critical lifeline during the pandemic, enabling patients to receive necessary medications without unnecessary risk. We cannot allow these lifelines to be severed. As Representative Doris Matusui (D-CA) recently said, “If flexibilities expire without a permanent framework or contingency plan, we put the care for thousands of patients at risk. During the pandemic, we proved that flexibilities allowing patients to receive these drugs without an in-person visit improved access to care, and that the DEA has the tools it needs to enforce protections against bad actors. We cannot ignore this critical issue. We can't leave behind patients.”

Our Request:

We call on Congress and the Biden Administration to act now to protect patients by:

Extending Pandemic-Era Flexibilities: Urge Congress to include a two-year extension of remote prescribing flexibilities for controlled substances in the upcoming end-of-year legislative package.

Administrative Action: Recommend that the White House work with the DEA and other relevant agencies to use their existing authorities to extend these flexibilities for two years. This extension would give the DEA the time it needs to fulfill its long-overdue obligation to establish a special registration pathway that balances access to medically necessary care with appropriate enforcement.

President Biden has pledged to protect Americans, especially the most vulnerable, from losing access to essential healthcare services. We are grateful for the Administration’s commitment to making telehealth a permanent part of care delivery. We now need swift, decisive action to uphold that commitment. We urge policymakers to act swiftly to safeguard the American people, create predictability for providers, and modernize our healthcare system to ensure patients receive timely and necessary care.

Sign this petition to urge Congress and the Biden Administration to take action before it’s too late. Let’s work together to protect access to critical telehealth services and ensure that no patient is left behind.