Table 2.

Federal regulatory changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective until end of public health crisis.

Pre-outbreak	Changes post-outbreak
•Clinicians must use HIPAA-compliant live interactive audio and video software	• Penalties for using some non-HIPAA compliant software waived “in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth” [26] ○ Health care professionals may use popular technologies including Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, Zoom, or Skype (though public-facing applications such as Facebook Live, Twitch, and TikTok should not be used) [26]
•Per Ryan Haight Act (2008), in-person initial and follow-up visits required for prescriptions of controlled substances	•Ryan Haight Act relaxed; in-person initial and follow-up visits not required to prescribe controlled substance [27]
•DEA regulations allow a practitioner (who is registered to dispense) to distribute controlled substances to a limited extent to another registered practitioner, such as a hospital, pharmacy, or physician during a calendar year, but the amount cannot exceed 5% of the total number of dosage units of all controlled substances that the practitioner dispenses and distributes during that year [28]	•A DEA-registered practitioner may now distribute controlled substances beyond 5% of the total number of dosage units of controlled substances distributed and dispensed during the same calendar year without being required to register as a distributor [28]
•Clozapine REMS required by FDA to manage known or potential risks to ensure that the benefits of the drug outweigh the risk of severe neutropenia.	•Clozapine REMS requirement relaxed; FDA recommends weighing risks and benefits of having patient presenting in person for laboratory testing [29]