Florida has made a significant regulatory advancement by amending its state code to allow certain controlled substances to be prescribed via telehealth. This change is a major step forward for Florida telehealth medication-assisted treatment (MAT), expanding access to care and improving behavioral health services across the state.
On April 6, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 312 into law after it passed the Florida Senate on March 11. The legislation permits all controlled substances—except those classified as Schedule II drugs—to be prescribed through telehealth platforms. The bill will officially take effect on July 1, 2025.
What Schedule II Drugs Are and Why They Remain Restricted
Schedule II drugs, which include commonly known substances such as oxycodone, fentanyl, methadone, and Adderall, are categorized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as having a “high potential for abuse” that may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Because of their risks, these substances remain restricted from telehealth prescribing under the new law.
That said, the legislation introduces important exceptions where Schedule II drugs can still be prescribed remotely. These exceptions cover treatment for psychiatric disorders, inpatient care during hospital stays, hospice treatment, and cases where patients are residing in nursing home facilities. These carve-outs acknowledge the unique needs of patients in certain care settings who may benefit from more flexible access.
Impact on Florida Telehealth Medication-Assisted Treatment
This expansion in telehealth prescribing is especially significant for medication-assisted treatment—a treatment model that combines behavioral therapy with FDA-approved medications to address substance use disorders. A key medication in MAT is buprenorphine, which is a Schedule III controlled substance and is often regarded as the gold standard for treating opioid use disorder.
With the new law allowing Schedule III drugs like buprenorphine to be prescribed via telehealth, more individuals struggling with opioid addiction in Florida can gain easier and more consistent access to life-saving medications. This flexibility can help reduce barriers such as transportation issues, stigma, and lack of local providers, making Florida telehealth medication-assisted treatment more accessible than ever.
Telehealth Growth and Investment During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed the rapid expansion of telehealth services, including virtual medication-assisted treatment providers. Several companies have gained substantial funding as they worked to meet growing demand and remove obstacles to treatment access.
- Bicycle Health, based in Boston, raised $27 million in a Series A funding round in June 2021 to accelerate its nationwide virtual MAT platform.
- Minded Inc., headquartered in New York City, secured $25 million in seed funding to broaden its telepsychiatry and medication management services.
- Ophelia Health raised $65 million in 2021 to enhance its telehealth offerings focused on opioid use disorder.
These investments demonstrate the increasing recognition of telehealth as a critical channel for delivering behavioral health services, including Florida telehealth medication-assisted treatment.
Navigating Complex Federal and State Regulations
Despite the progress at the state level, providers and patients must still navigate a complex web of overlapping regulations governing telehealth prescribing of controlled substances.
Nathaniel Lacktman, a healthcare attorney and partner at Foley & Lardner LLP, explains that Florida’s new law must be “read in harmony with the Ryan Haight Act requirements,” which impose federal guidelines on controlled substance prescribing. Providers must ensure they comply with both Florida state law and federal statutes.
The Ryan Haight Act traditionally requires an initial in-person medical evaluation before controlled substances can be prescribed and mandates at least one in-person visit every 24 months to continue prescriptions. However, in response to the public health emergency posed by COVID-19, the DEA temporarily waived these in-person visit requirements to facilitate broader access to care through telehealth.
DEA’s Commitment to Supporting Medication-Assisted Treatment
The DEA has indicated that it may continue to support the more flexible telehealth prescribing framework beyond the pandemic. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram stated in March 2025: “At DEA, our goal is simple: we want medication-assisted treatment to be readily and safely available to anyone in the country who needs it.”
This federal openness combined with Florida’s recent legislative change suggests a long-term shift toward greater integration of telehealth in addiction treatment, increasing the likelihood that patients will have easier access to essential medications regardless of geographic or logistical barriers. This will greatly enhance Florida telehealth medication-assisted treatment availability.
Why This Matters for Patients and Providers in Florida
Medication-assisted treatment is recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other leading organizations as a highly effective approach for treating opioid and other substance use disorders. However, access to MAT has historically been limited by factors such as provider availability, stigma, and regulatory hurdles.
By enabling telehealth prescribing of most controlled substances, Florida is lowering those barriers, especially for rural and underserved populations who may struggle to access in-person care. This can lead to better treatment retention, reduced overdose deaths, and improved recovery outcomes.
Providers in Florida now have an expanded toolkit to support their patients with flexible care delivery models. However, it remains essential for healthcare professionals to stay informed about federal and state requirements to ensure compliance and maintain patient safety in Florida telehealth medication-assisted treatment.
Looking Ahead
As telehealth continues to reshape behavioral health care delivery, Florida’s new law sets a precedent that other states may follow. It also encourages innovation among telemedicine providers and health systems to integrate MAT more fully into their virtual offerings.
Patients seeking treatment should engage with providers who are knowledgeable about both the regulatory environment and the latest treatment modalities to benefit from these expanded telehealth options.
This legislative development represents a positive and timely advancement in addressing the opioid crisis and improving behavioral health access in Florida through telehealth. It promises to make Florida telehealth medication-assisted treatment more effective and accessible in the years to come.
If you or a loved one is seeking medication-assisted treatment or behavioral health services, consulting with a qualified provider familiar with telehealth options can help you understand your treatment choices and ensure safe, effective care in line with the newest regulations for Florida telehealth medication-assisted treatment.
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