New state regulations are moving away from regulating just "pill mills" to setting up restrictions for physicians practicing pain management, according to an American Medical News report.
Some of the strictest regulations are in Washington and Ohio, the report said. A new Washington law, which passed in July and which will go into effect in January, requires physicians and patients to sign "patient contracts" as well as provides guidelines for evaluating and treating patients with chronic noncancer pain. In Ohio, physicians working at clinics where more than 50 percent of patients are prescribed opioids are required to complete 20 hours of pain medicine continuing education every two years.
Related Articles about Opioid Regulation:
Florida's Prescription Drug Database Goes Live Today
New California Law Makes Pain Management Practice Easier
Chronic Pain and Prescription Drug Abuse Cost U.S. More Than $323 Billion a Year
Some of the strictest regulations are in Washington and Ohio, the report said. A new Washington law, which passed in July and which will go into effect in January, requires physicians and patients to sign "patient contracts" as well as provides guidelines for evaluating and treating patients with chronic noncancer pain. In Ohio, physicians working at clinics where more than 50 percent of patients are prescribed opioids are required to complete 20 hours of pain medicine continuing education every two years.
Related Articles about Opioid Regulation:
Florida's Prescription Drug Database Goes Live Today
New California Law Makes Pain Management Practice Easier
Chronic Pain and Prescription Drug Abuse Cost U.S. More Than $323 Billion a Year