Examining Regulatory Classifications and Social Determinants of Health in Telehealth-Mediated ADHD Prescription Fulfillment Barriers

Background

Telehealth has expanded remote access to ADHD care, yet a prescription issued remotely must still be filled at a pharmacy—and whether telehealth resolves these downstream fulfillment barriers remains unclear. Federal regulatory distinctions between Schedule II controlled stimulants and non-controlled ADHD pharmacotherapies create structurally divergent procurement experiences, particularly under ongoing nationwide stimulant shortages. This study examined whether prescription fulfillment difficulty differs by medication regulatory classification among adults using telehealth for ADHD care, and identified social determinants of health (SDOH) associated with access difficulty.