Over the past several years, telehealth practice has dramatically expanded, offering improved access to care for patients and greater flexibility for psychiatric nurse practitioners (psych NPs). With those benefits, however, comes the challenge of keeping up with ongoing telehealth policy updates for psych NPs, especially as regulations shift in response to the post-pandemic landscape.
To help you stay current, here’s a concise timeline of the most important telehealth policy updates for psych NPs—including what’s been made permanent, what’s temporary, and what may be coming next..
📅 Key Telehealth Policy Updates for Psych NPs
March 2020: CARES Act + PHE Flexibilities
As the COVID-19 pandemic began, the CARES Act expanded telehealth access. The DEA also temporarily allowed prescribing controlled substances via telehealth during the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE).
December 2022: Permanent Medicare Changes
Thanks to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, telehealth visits for behavioral and mental health services became permanently approved for Medicare patients. This was a big win for telehealth policy updates for psych NPs nationwide.
May 2023: First DEA Post-PHE Extension
The DEA, in partnership with HHS, issued its first post-PHE extension, allowing continued flexibility for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine.
October 2023: Second DEA Extension
A second extension was issued, extending the flexibilities through December 2024.
November 2024: Third DEA Extension
Another extension followed, pushing the expiration date to December 31, 2025. With three back-to-back extensions, it’s clear there’s ongoing momentum behind these telehealth policies.
2024 and Beyond: Legislative Efforts
The proposed Telehealth Modernization Act of 2024 aimed to extend COVID-era telehealth flexibilities through 2026, but Congress has yet to pass it. Bipartisan support exists, but delays continue to stall progress.
🌍 Why This Matters for Your Practice
These changes have already had a significant impact on patient care, particularly in rural and underserved communities. For psych NPs, they’ve enabled greater continuity, accessibility, and flexibility in treatment – especially for patients needing controlled medications.
If you’ve practiced in a telehealth setting over the last few years, you’ve likely experienced firsthand how telehealth policy updates for psych NPs have reshaped the way we work.
👀 What’s Coming Next?
Curious about where the profession is headed? I published a blog post exploring what’s on the horizon for psychiatric nurse practitioners in 2025 and beyond.
In it, I dive into:
- How artificial intelligence is reshaping mental healthcare
- The evolving trends in stimulant prescribing practices
- What market saturation could mean for job demand and competition
👉 Read the full post here for insights that can help you plan your next steps as a psych NP.