If you take medication in New Jersey, a quiet rule change in New Jersey could soon make life a little more complicated. And the surprising part is that many patients still have no idea it is coming.

For the past few years, getting prescriptions has become much easier thanks to telehealth rules from the pandemic era. Instead of driving to a doctor’s office and sitting in a waiting room, patients could hop on a quick video appointment and get their prescription renewed. For many people, that convenience became the new normal. But that setup is about to change.

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New Rule Could Make It Harder For Some NJ Patients To Get ADHD Medication

During COVID, New Jersey temporarily relaxed rules on certain Schedule II medications. That includes common ADHD stimulants like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse.

Doctors were allowed to prescribe these medications via virtual appointments rather than requiring in-person visits.

It made things easier for patients juggling work schedules, long drives to specialists, and the ongoing shortage of mental health providers. A quick 15-minute video call could replace what might otherwise be an hour or more out of your day.

However, those temporary rules were lifted before former Governor Phil Murphy left office.

Starting May 16, adults who take stimulant medications will now need to see their doctor in person every three months to keep getting prescriptions.

One interesting exception remains. Patients under 18 can still use telehealth visits for ADHD medications since that rule existed even before the pandemic.

READ MORE: Author Matt Ryan Shares His Inpatient Mental Health Hospitalization Story

Mental Health Provider Shortage Could Make This Tricky

Here is where the concern really comes in. New Jersey already has a shortage of mental health professionals. According to a report from mental health advocacy group Inseparable, the state only has about 53 percent of the psychiatrists needed to properly treat residents.

More than 1.3 million people in New Jersey are dealing with mental health conditions, so finding appointments is already tough in many areas. Now imagine thousands of adults suddenly needing in-person visits every three months.

Important Medication Deadline NJ Patients Should Know

There is a small grace period for current patients.

Adults who were already prescribed stimulant medications before February 16 have until May 16 to schedule and complete an in-person appointment. After that date, doctors cannot renew prescriptions without seeing the patient face-to-face.

Doctors in New Jersey wrote more than 828,000 stimulant prescriptions in 2025 alone. Federal telehealth rules for these medications currently remain in place through the end of 2026. But New Jersey has decided to take a stricter approach for now.