At its Jan. 6, 2026 meeting, the Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $1.86 million in opioid-settlement grants to six community organizations, funding a portfolio that expands substance-use prevention, peer support, and recovery services across the county. The awards were advanced by the county’s regional advisory process and align with the One Arizona Agreement, which governs how settlement dollars are distributed and tracked.

On December 31, 2025, the DEA, working jointly with HHS, issued a fourth temporary extension of the COVID-era telemedicine flexibilities that allow clinicians to prescribe Schedule II–V controlled medications via telehealth without first conducting an in-person visit. The rule takes effect January 1, 2026, and extends the current framework through December 31, 2026, preventing an abrupt “telemedicine cliff” for patients who rely on remote care.

On November 5, 2025, the American Hospital Association highlighted new research tracking a major shift in state policy: more states are banning prior authorization requirements in private health plans for medications used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). The Health Affairs study (published November 3, 2025) found that from 2015 to 2023, the number of states with these prohibitions grew from two to 22, reflecting rising urgency to remove administrative barriers that can delay time-sensitive treatment. 

On August 4, 2025, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act (HB 1806), restricting the use of artificial intelligence to provide mental health therapy or make therapeutic decisions without licensed clinical oversight, while still allowing AI for limited administrative or supplemental support.