The state of Washington plans to implement a series of laws that would clamp down on physicians who excessively prescribe pain medications, according to a Buffalo News report.
The new measures, which will take effect later this year, will require physicians to use a prescription monitoring database to prevent physician shopping (explain what this is). Physicians will also be required to consult pain specialists if a patient's pain medication dose goes above an established acceptable level. Additionally, pain physicians will be required to maintain screening and treatment records as well as log a patient's progress in a state database.
Although the new measures would not apply to cancer pain, post-surgical acute pain or end-of-life care, they are meant to address the growing problem of overprescribing pain medications. Meanwhile, agencies such as the FBI and DEA have increased their enforcement efforts. James W. Marshall, MD, operator of Immediate Medical Care in Monroe, Conn., pleaded guilty earlier this month to participating in a conspiracy in which he admitted to illegally writing prescriptions for patients he never met, examined or consulted.
Read the news report about Washington regulations restricting pain prescriptions.
Read other coverage about pain prescription regulations:
- Florida Senate Passes Measure Targeting 'Pill Mills' With Harsher Penalties, Drug Database
- Florida's 'Pill Mill' Regulations Get More Complicated
The new measures, which will take effect later this year, will require physicians to use a prescription monitoring database to prevent physician shopping (explain what this is). Physicians will also be required to consult pain specialists if a patient's pain medication dose goes above an established acceptable level. Additionally, pain physicians will be required to maintain screening and treatment records as well as log a patient's progress in a state database.
Although the new measures would not apply to cancer pain, post-surgical acute pain or end-of-life care, they are meant to address the growing problem of overprescribing pain medications. Meanwhile, agencies such as the FBI and DEA have increased their enforcement efforts. James W. Marshall, MD, operator of Immediate Medical Care in Monroe, Conn., pleaded guilty earlier this month to participating in a conspiracy in which he admitted to illegally writing prescriptions for patients he never met, examined or consulted.
Read the news report about Washington regulations restricting pain prescriptions.
Read other coverage about pain prescription regulations:
- Florida Senate Passes Measure Targeting 'Pill Mills' With Harsher Penalties, Drug Database
- Florida's 'Pill Mill' Regulations Get More Complicated