Alaska Medical Board adopts telemedicine buprenorphine regulations

The Alaska State Medical Board adopted regulations establishing standards for prescribing buprenorphine via telemedicine to treat opioid use disorder. The regulations take effect July 4, giving patients across Alaska access to remote treatment for opioid addiction under state-approved clinical standards.

The board adopted the regulations February 26. The Department of Law reviewed and approved them. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor signed and filed the regulations June 4.

The regulations repeal outdated state language on telemedicine buprenorphine prescribing and align Alaska's standards with current federal telehealth practice. The change means clinicians can now prescribe buprenorphine remotely under clear state guidelines, and patients in rural areas can start treatment without traveling to an in-person appointment first.

The federal government expanded telemedicine buprenorphine access in January 2025, making permanent earlier flexibilities. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule allowing patients to start treatment and receive up to a six-month supply of buprenorphine via audio-only or audio-visual telehealth before an in-person visit is required.

The board issued a notice of proposed regulatory changes in October 2025. The public comment period closed November 3, 2025. ATA Action, a national telehealth advocacy organization, submitted a letter supporting the proposed amendment to repeal outdated restrictions on telemedicine buprenorphine prescribing.