Under these current 2026 rules, a licensed physician can issue a prescription during a real-time, audio-visual telehealth consultation. However, this flexibility is strictly reserved for DEA-registered practitioners acting within the usual course of professional practice. Any digital platform offering "instant" fulfillment based solely on a text survey or an automated questionnaire—without a live video evaluation by a board-certified doctor—is operating in direct violation of the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act and should be avoided immediately.
