The Kentucky attorney general's office has released an opinion statement saying county governments do not have the power to ban pain clinics, according to a Lexington Herald-Leader news report.
According to the opinion statement written by Assistant Attorney General James Herrick, only state and federal governments have the authority to regulate medical practices and county governments cannot infringe on that right by posing bans on pain management clinics. The opinion was released in response to local Johnson County officials seeking the attorney general's opinion on a proposed ban on clinics that prescribe larges amounts of pain medications, according to the news report.
The assistant attorney general's opinion was met with disappointment by local officials, even though they recognize enforcing such a ban may be difficult or impossible. Local counties may end up taking the issue to court in order to enact the bans. Others are seeking to shut them down by citing them as a public nuisance, according to the news report.
So far, at least three state Senate bills seeking stricter regulations on pain clinics were shot down.
Read the news report about pain clinics in Kentucky.
Related articles on pain management:
Opioid Pain Medications Drive "Epidemic" of Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths
North Carolina Pain Management Physician Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud
Florida Society of Pain Management President Says Law Enforcement Campaigns Threaten Legit Practices
According to the opinion statement written by Assistant Attorney General James Herrick, only state and federal governments have the authority to regulate medical practices and county governments cannot infringe on that right by posing bans on pain management clinics. The opinion was released in response to local Johnson County officials seeking the attorney general's opinion on a proposed ban on clinics that prescribe larges amounts of pain medications, according to the news report.
The assistant attorney general's opinion was met with disappointment by local officials, even though they recognize enforcing such a ban may be difficult or impossible. Local counties may end up taking the issue to court in order to enact the bans. Others are seeking to shut them down by citing them as a public nuisance, according to the news report.
So far, at least three state Senate bills seeking stricter regulations on pain clinics were shot down.
Read the news report about pain clinics in Kentucky.
Related articles on pain management:
Opioid Pain Medications Drive "Epidemic" of Unintentional Drug Overdose Deaths
North Carolina Pain Management Physician Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud
Florida Society of Pain Management President Says Law Enforcement Campaigns Threaten Legit Practices