Doctors can now prescribe opioid addiction medicine over the phone for six months

US regulators have made it easier for doctors to prescribe buprenorphine, a medicine for opioid addiction, using only a phone call. Patients can now get an initial six-month supply of the drug without an in-person visit.

Before this rule, doctors generally needed to see patients in person before prescribing controlled substances like buprenorphine. This often created a barrier for people in rural areas or those who struggled with transportation, leading to gaps in care. The change means more people can start and continue treatment for opioid use disorder, potentially reducing overdose deaths and improving access to care.